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Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Restrictions (Narrative and Statutory Accounting Practices Tables) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Restrictions [Abstract]
American Equity Life, statutory net income	$ 205,202,000	$ 82,039,000	$ 169,365,000
American Equity Life, statutory capital and surplus balance	1,870,728,000	1,658,929,000
Total adjusted capital	1,995,658,000	1,741,638,000
Company Action Level RBC	580,085,000	524,928,000
Ratio of adjusted capital to Company Action Level RBC	344.00%	332.00%
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments [Abstract]
Dividends paid by insurance subsidiaries	0	0	0
Statutory amount available for dividend payments without regulatory approval	$ 195,000,000

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- Definition

Statutory accounting practices, dividends paid by insurance subsidiaries

+ References

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- Definition

Capital and surplus level that would require corporate action.

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- Definition

Represents the total adjusted capital and surplus balance for purposes of calculating risk based capital.

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- Definition

Total Capital divided by risk weighted assets as defined in the regulations.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 505

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1H

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7881181&loc=d3e65071-112826



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Amount of dividends that can be declared or paid without approval of regulatory agency.

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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.(e))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690



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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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The amount of statutory capital and surplus (stockholders' equity) as of the balance sheet date using prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices (rather than GAAP, if different) of the state or country.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

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-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.23(c))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910



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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

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- Definition

Amount of net income for the period determined using accounting principles prescribed or permitted by insurance regulators.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

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