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Notes Payable Convertible Senior Notes Due 2029 (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012
Convertible Debt Issued 2009 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Effective Percentage	11.90%
Convertible Debt Issued in 2009 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Conversion Price	$ 9.57
Principal Amount of Convertible Senior Notes Payable at Issuance, Issued for Cash	$ 52,200,000
Principal Amount of Convertible Senior Notes Payable at Issuance	115,800,000
Principal Amount of Convertible Senior Notes Payable at Issuance, Issued in Exchange of Debt Outstanding	$ 63,600,000
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Number of Shares	104.5

X

- Definition

The number of shares that the holder of the debt instrument would receive if the debt was converted to equity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The principal amount of convertible senior notes payable at the time the securities were issued.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The principal amount of 2029 convertible senior notes issued for cash.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The principal amount of 2029 notes issued to extinguish outstanding notes issued in 2004.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
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X

- Definition

The price per share of the conversion feature embedded in the debt instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031898-161870



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number APB14-1

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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X

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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