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Variable Interest Entities - Additional Information (Detail) | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) Entity | Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) Entity | Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) Entity | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities, amortized cost | $ 2,140,000,000 | $ 2,140,000,000 |  |
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax | 141,000,000 | 141,000,000 | $ 149,000,000 |
Available-for-sale Securities | 2,265,000,000 | 2,265,000,000 |  |
Restricted Cash | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 13,000,000 | $ 55,000,000
Fair value of special purpose entities | 114,000 | 114,000 |  |
Assets | 12,303,000,000 | 12,303,000,000 | 13,220,000,000 |
Liabilities | 11,187,000,000 | 11,187,000,000 | 12,074,000,000 |
Equity Method Investments |  |  | 51,000,000 |
Other Investments | 690,000,000 | 690,000,000 | 595,000,000 |
Deconsolidated VIE Assets |  |  | 0 |
Long-term debt | 2,230,000,000 | 2,230,000,000 | 2,739,000,000 |
Derivative assets | 76,000,000 | 76,000,000 | 93,000,000 |
Other assets | 68,000,000 | 68,000,000 | 68,000,000 |
Accrued interest payable | 576,000,000 | 576,000,000 | 517,000,000 |
Derivative liabilities | 95,000,000 | 95,000,000 | 114,000,000 |
Other liabilities | $ 133,000,000 | $ 133,000,000 | $ 135,000,000 |
Consolidated Entities [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of DeConsolidated Variable Interest Entities |  | 0 | 1 | 1
Number of consolidated Variable Interest Entities | Entity | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | $ 3,455,000,000 | $ 3,455,000,000 | $ 3,354,000,000 |
Restricted Cash | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | $ 2,000,000
Assets | 6,216,000,000 | 6,216,000,000 | 6,398,000,000 |
Liabilities | 6,156,000,000 | 6,156,000,000 | 6,328,000,000 |
Loans, Unpaid principal balance | 2,363,000,000 | 2,363,000,000 | 2,546,000,000 |
Long-term Debt, Fair Value | 4,056,000,000 | 4,056,000,000 | 4,324,000,000 |
Long-term debt, Unpaid principal balance | 3,579,000,000 | 3,579,000,000 | 3,769,000,000 |
Long-term debt | 4,216,000,000 | 4,216,000,000 | 4,493,000,000 |
Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss | 2,718,000,000 | 2,718,000,000 | 2,998,000,000 |
Derivative assets | 38,000,000 | 38,000,000 | 41,000,000 |
Other assets | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
Long-term Debt, at par less amortized discount | 160,000,000 | 160,000,000 | 169,000,000 |
Derivative liabilities | $ 1,940,000,000 | $ 1,940,000,000 | $ 1,835,000,000 |
Ambac UK [Member] | Consolidated Entities [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of consolidated Variable Interest Entities | Entity | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Ambac UK [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | $ 3,320,000,000 | $ 3,320,000,000 | $ 3,215,000,000 |
Restricted Cash | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Assets | 6,077,000,000 | 6,077,000,000 | 6,255,000,000 |
Liabilities | 5,996,000,000 | 5,996,000,000 | 6,159,000,000 |
Long-term Debt, Fair Value | 4,056,000,000 | 4,056,000,000 | 4,324,000,000 |
Long-term debt | 4,056,000,000 | 4,056,000,000 | 4,324,000,000 |
Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss | 2,718,000,000 | 2,718,000,000 | 2,998,000,000 |
Derivative assets | 38,000,000 | 38,000,000 | 41,000,000 |
Other assets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Long-term Debt, at par less amortized discount | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Derivative liabilities | $ 1,940,000,000 | $ 1,940,000,000 | $ 1,835,000,000 |
Ambac Assurance [Member] | Consolidated Entities [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of consolidated Variable Interest Entities | Entity | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Ambac Assurance [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | $ 136,000,000 | $ 136,000,000 | $ 139,000,000 |
Restricted Cash | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
Assets | 139,000,000 | 139,000,000 | 143,000,000 |
Liabilities | 160,000,000 | 160,000,000 | 169,000,000 |
Long-term Debt, Fair Value | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Long-term debt | 160,000,000 | 160,000,000 | 169,000,000 |
Financing Receivable, after Allowance for Credit Loss | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Derivative assets | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Other assets | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
Long-term Debt, at par less amortized discount | 160,000,000 | 160,000,000 | 169,000,000 |
Derivative liabilities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | 2,230,000,000 | 2,230,000,000 | 2,739,000,000 |
Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | 5.1% Junior Surplus Notes, General Account Due 2020 [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Long-term debt | $ 0 | 0 | 247,000,000 |
Ambac Assurance Corporation [Member] | 5.1% Junior Surplus Notes, General Account Due 2020 [Member] | Corolla Notes |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Note Holders | 1 |  |  |
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | $ 3,320,000,000 | 3,320,000,000 | 3,215,000,000 |
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Ambac UK [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | 3,320,000,000 | 3,320,000,000 | 3,215,000,000 |
Corporate Debt Securities [Member] | Ambac Assurance [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Municipal Bonds [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Debt Securities, Available-for-sale, Accumulated Gross Unrealized Gain, before Tax | 29,000,000 | 29,000,000 | 27,000,000 |
Available-for-sale Securities | 136,000,000 | 136,000,000 | 139,000,000 |
Municipal Bonds [Member] | Ambac UK [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Municipal Bonds [Member] | Ambac Assurance [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member] |  |  |  |
Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Available-for-sale Securities | $ 136,000,000 | $ 136,000,000 | $ 139,000,000 |

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