XML 71 R51.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.10.0.1

Variable Interest Entities - Summary of Fair Value of Fixed Income Securities, by Asset-Type, Held by Consolidated Variable Interest Entities (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
--- | --- | ---
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |
Variable Interest Entity Nonconsolidated Carrying Amount Insurance Assets | $ 2,257,824 | $ 1,069,268
Variable Interest Entity Nonconsolidated Carrying Amount Insurance Liabilities | 1,433,877 | 4,260,578
Variable Interest Entity, Reporting Entity Involvement, Maximum Loss Exposure, Amount | 35,566,155 | $ 44,199,767
Investments: |  |
Variable Interest Entity Nonconsolidated Carrying Amount Derivative Net Assets Or Liabilities | $ 5,711 |

X
- Definition The net carrying amount of derivative assets or liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the entity's variable interests in Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) where the VIEs are not consolidated. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountDerivativeNetAssetsOrLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount of insurance assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the entity's variable interests in Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) where the VIEs are not consolidated. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountInsuranceAssets
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The carrying amount of insurance liabilities in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the entity's variable interests in Variable Interest Entities (VIEs) where the VIEs are not consolidated. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ambc_VariableInterestEntityNonconsolidatedCarryingAmountInsuranceLiabilities
Namespace Prefix: | ambc_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssetsAndLiabilitiesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108788376&loc=d3e5747-111685 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -Subparagraph b -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108788376&loc=d3e5728-111685 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityEntityMaximumLossExposureAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration