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Background and Basis of Presentation - Surplus Note Exchange (Details) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) | Feb. 11, 2021 USD ($) | Jan. 19, 2021 USD ($)
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Net realized gains (losses) on extinguishment of debt |  | $ 33,000,000 | $ 0 | $ 0 |  |
Realized Investment Gains (Losses) |  | 7,000,000 | 22,000,000 | 81,000,000 |  |
Parent Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Realized Investment Gains (Losses) |  | (5,000,000) | (1,000,000) | $ (2,000,000) |  |
Parent [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Realized Investment Gains (Losses) |  | 4,000,000 |  |  |  |
Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Debt, Gross | $ 2,334,000,000 | $ 2,334,000,000 | $ 2,884,000,000 |  |  |
Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | 5.1 % Surplus Notes Due 2020 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 5.10% | 5.10% | 5.10% |  |  |
Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | 5.1% Junior Surplus Notes Due 2020 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage | 5.10% | 5.10% | 5.10% |  |  |
Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | Corolla Notes |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  |  | 5.10%
5.1% Junior Surplus Notes, General Account Due 2020 [Member] | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Debt, Gross | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 365,000,000 |  |  |
5.1% Junior Surplus Notes, General Account Due 2020 [Member] | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | Lease Reducing Notes |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Debt Reduced in Exchange |  |  |  |  | $ 15,000,000 |
5.1% Junior Surplus Notes, General Account Due 2020 [Member] | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | Corolla Notes |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Payment Amount in Exchange |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.9125
Note Holders | 1 |  |  |  |  |
5.1% Junior Surplus Notes, General Account Due 2020 [Member] | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | Corolla Certificate |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
One Dollar Outstanding |  |  |  |  |  | 1.00
Payment Amount in Exchange |  |  |  |  |  | 0.64
5.1% Surplus Notes, General Account, Due 2020 [Member] | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Debt, Gross | $ 785,000,000 | $ 785,000,000 | $ 531,000,000 |  |  |
5.1% Surplus Notes, General Account, Due 2020 [Member] | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | Corolla Notes |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Long-term Debt Issued in Exchange Transaction |  |  |  |  |  | 267,000,000
Corolla Notes | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
One Dollar Outstanding |  |  |  |  |  | 1.00
Lease Reducing Notes | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
One Dollar Outstanding |  |  |  |  | 1.00 |
Payment Amount in Exchange |  |  |  |  | $ 0.8581 |
Long-term Debt Issued in Exchange Transaction |  |  |  |  |  | $ 13,000,000
Lease Reducing Notes | Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | 5.1% Junior Surplus Notes Due 2020 [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |
Insurance [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage |  |  |  |  | 5.10% |

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