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Income Taxes (Income Taxes and Shareholders' Equity) (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Current taxes: |  |  |
Federal | $ 0 us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit | $ 0 us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit | $ 3 us-gaap_CurrentFederalTaxExpenseBenefit
State | 10 us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit | 8 us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit | 2 us-gaap_CurrentStateAndLocalTaxExpenseBenefit
Foreign | 12 us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit | 1 us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit | (6)us-gaap_CurrentForeignTaxExpenseBenefit
Deferred taxes: |  |  |
Federal | 48 us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | 165 us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | 350 us-gaap_DeferredFederalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
State |  |  | 0 us-gaap_DeferredStateAndLocalIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Foreign | 2 us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | (8)us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | 15 us-gaap_DeferredForeignIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Provision (benefit) for income taxes | 72 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | 166 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit | 364 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Income tax effects allocated directly to equity [Abstract] |  |  |
Change in unrealized gains and losses on AFS securities | 89 mbi_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments | (81)mbi_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments | 86 mbi_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnInvestments
Change in AFS securities with OTTI | (29)us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent | 4 us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent | 42 us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Change in foreign currency translation | (13)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax | 1 us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax | (2)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax
Share-based compensation | 2 us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost | 4 us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost | 7 us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseShareBasedCompensationCost
Total income taxes charged (credited) to shareholders' equity | 49 us-gaap_IncomeTaxEffectsAllocatedDirectlyToEquity | (72)us-gaap_IncomeTaxEffectsAllocatedDirectlyToEquity | 133 us-gaap_IncomeTaxEffectsAllocatedDirectlyToEquity
Total effect of income taxes | $ 121 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitIntraperiodTaxAllocation | $ 94 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitIntraperiodTaxAllocation | $ 497 us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitIntraperiodTaxAllocation

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- Definition Amount of current state and local tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Current Tax Expense (or Benefit) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6509736 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section I -Subsection 7 + Details
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- Definition Amount of deferred federal income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to income (loss) from continuing operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I.7) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34349781&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 6 -Section I -Subsection 7 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Deferred Tax Expense (or Benefit) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510177 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 + Details
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- Definition The sum of the tax effects of all items occurring during the period that have been charged or credited directly to other comprehensive income or to related components of shareholders' equity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32672-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18498875&loc=d3e39076-109324 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (d),(e) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18498875&loc=d3e38679-109324 + Details
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- Definition Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 08 -Paragraph h -Article 4 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Income Tax Expense (or Benefit) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6515339 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (a),(b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32639-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of the difference between reported income tax expense (benefit) and expected income tax expense (benefit) computed by applying the domestic federal statutory income tax rates to pretax income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to nondeductible equity-based compensation costs. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
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