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Special Purpose Entities, Including Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Entity | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) Entity | Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Entity
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entity Change in Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities | $ 2,924 | $ (450) | $ 4,760 |  |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Derecognition, before Tax |  |  |  | $ 1,468 |
Realized Investment Gains (Losses) |  |  | 53,093 | 52,010 |
Equity Method Investments | 42,875 |  | 42,875 |  | $ 40,168
Deconsolidated VIE Assets | 292,003 |  | 292,003 |  |
Deconsolidated VIE Liabilities | 363,628 |  | 363,628 |  |
Fair value of special purpose entities | 3,771 |  | 3,771 |  | 4,516
variable interest entities deconsolidation gain loss | 0 | 0 | 14,864 | 0 |
Variable Interest Entity, Measure of Activity, Income or Loss before Tax | 3,294 | 577 | 19,215 | 1,151 |
Other investments | 469,438 |  | 469,438 |  | 391,217
Long-term debt | 2,946,620 |  | $ 2,946,620 |  | 2,928,929
Asset-Backed Securities and Utility Obligations [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Weighted average life |  |  | 1 year 7 months 6 days |  |
Average rating of assets held by sponsored special purpose entities |  |  | BBB+ |  |
Sponsored Variable Interest Entities [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Total principal amount of debt outstanding | 391,480 |  | $ 391,480 |  | 393,010
Variable Interest Entities [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Financial Liability, Fair Value Option, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Derecognition, before Tax | (223) | 1,027 | (394) | (317) |
VIE Change in FV of Assets Liabilities, Net of Credit Risk Change | 2,701 | 577 | 4,366 | 1,151 |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Interest Expense, Long-term Debt | (4,089) | 0 | (6,445) | 0 |
Other Expenses | (708) | $ 0 | (819) | $ 0 |
Long-term debt | $ 5,648,083 |  | $ 5,648,083 |  | $ 5,268,596
Consolidated Entities [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of Newly Consolidated Variable Interest Entities | 0 | 0 |  |  |
Number of DeConsolidated Variable Interest Entities | 0 | 0 |  | 0 |
Number Of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities | Entity | 8 |  | 8 |  | 7
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number of DeConsolidated Variable Interest Entities |  |  | 0 |  |
Ambac UK [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | $ 5,308,724 |  | $ 5,308,724 |  | $ 5,268,596
Ambac UK [Member] | Consolidated Entities [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Number Of Consolidated Variable Interest Entities | Entity | 7 |  | 7 |  | 7
Ambac Assurance [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Carry Value Secured Notes from LSNI | $ 575,138 |  | $ 575,138 |  | $ 656,473
Fixed Income Investments [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Gross Investment Income, Operating | 3,527 | $ 0 | 5,386 | $ 0 |
Realized Investment Gains (Losses) | 1,863 | $ 0 | 1,863 | $ 0 |
Ambac Note Post Exit From Rehabilitation [Member] | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | $ 1,918,357 |  | $ 1,918,357 |  | $ 1,940,289

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