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Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Parent Company Only) - Condensed Statements of Stockholders' Equity (Detail) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | $ 274 |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | 0 |
Stock-based compensation | (12) |
Issuance of common stock | (1) |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | (297) |
Ending balance | 1,633 |
Retained Earnings [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 267 |
Stock-based compensation | 0 |
Issuance of common stock | (1) |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | (82) |
Ending balance | 1,421 |
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 6 |
Stock-based compensation | 0 |
Issuance of common stock | 0 |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | 0 |
Ending balance | (49) |
Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 0 |
Stock-based compensation | 0 |
Issuance of common stock | 0 |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | 0 |
Ending balance | 0 |
Common Stock [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 0 |
Stock-based compensation | 0 |
Issuance of common stock | 0 |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | 0 |
Ending balance | 0 |
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 0 |
Stock-based compensation | (12) |
Issuance of common stock | 0 |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | 8 |
Ending balance | 219 |
Common Stock Held in Treasury, at Cost [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 0 |
Stock-based compensation | 0 |
Issuance of common stock | 0 |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | 0 |
Ending balance | 0 |
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 0 |
Stock-based compensation | 0 |
Issuance of common stock | 0 |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | (223) |
Ending balance | 41 |
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 192 |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | 0 |
Stock-based compensation | (12) |
Issuance of common stock | (1) |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | 8 |
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent | 1,592 | $ 1,381
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 186 |
Issuance of common stock | (1) |
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent | 1,421 | 1,234
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] | AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 6 |
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent | (49) | (52)
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] | Preferred Stock [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent | 0 | 0
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] | Common Stock [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent | 0 | 0
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] | Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Stock-based compensation | (12) |
AMPS Impact on Stockholders Equity | 8 |
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent | 219 | 200
Ambac Financial Group, Inc Parent Company Only [Member] | Common Stock Held in Treasury, at Cost [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
Issuance of common stock | 0 |
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent | 0 | $ 0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | 3 |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] | AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | (3) |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] | Parent [Member] | Retained Earnings [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | 3 |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] | Parent [Member] | AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member] |  |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] |  |
New Accounting Pronouncement or Change in Accounting Principle, Effect of Adoption, Quantification | $ (3) |

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