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Income Taxes (Narrative) (Detail) (USD $) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Non Variable Interest Entities [Line Items] |  |  |
Federal statutory rate | 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate | 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate | 35.00%us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Net deferred tax asset | $ 1,009,000,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet | $ 1,109,000,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNet |
Non U.S. deferred tax liability | 18,000,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilities |  |
Valuation allowance | 0 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance | 93,000,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance |
Increase in net income (loss) |  |  | 60,000,000 mbi_IncreaseDecreaseInNetIncomeLoss
NOL carryforward | 3,200,000,000 us-gaap_OperatingLossCarryforwards |  |
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward | $ 22,000,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsAlternativeMinimumTax | $ 22,000,000 us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsAlternativeMinimumTax |

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- Definition Amount after allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible temporary differences and carryforwards, net of deferred tax liability attributable to taxable temporary differences. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount before allocation of valuation allowances of deferred tax asset attributable to deductible alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32621-109319 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32632-109319 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Alternative Minimum Tax -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6504908 + Details
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- Definition Amount of deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not that a tax benefit will not be realized. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32537-109319 + Details
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- Definition Amount of operating loss carryforward, before tax effects, available to reduce future taxable income under enacted tax laws. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32559-109319 + Details
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