The price per share that we will be entitled to receive if we opt to exercise the call options of the 2015 notes hedge.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_DerivativeAssetStrikePrice
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of shares that is the basis for the amount of cash that we are entitled to if we exercise the call options in the 2015 notes hedge.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_DerivativeConversionSpreadShares
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of years the interest rate swaps and caps have until maturity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_DerivativeInstrumentsInterestRateSwapsandCapsDuration
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Investment maturity period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_InvestmentMaturityPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net cash received from counterparties for settlement of call options and warrants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_NetCashReceivedFromCounterpartiesForSettlementofCallOptionsandWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of counterparties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_NumberofCounterparties
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of counterparties related to partial unwind agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_NumberOfCounterpartiesPartialUnwindAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of partial unwind agreements entered into.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_NumberOfPartialUnwindAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The number of shares of common stock currently deliverable under warrants outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_WarrantsDeliverable
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Exercise price of the warrants.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column A

+ Details

Name:	invest_InvestmentWarrantsExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

+ 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.(i)(2))

-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 i

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ClassOfWarrantOrRightNumberOfSecuritiesCalledByWarrantsOrRights
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument, the entity would incur if parties to the financial instruments that make up the concentration failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts and the collateral or other security, if any, for the amount due proved to be of no value to the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28364263&loc=d3e13537-108611

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskCreditRiskFinancialInstrumentMaximumExposure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: 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

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cap rate on an interest rate derivative such as an interest rate cap or collar. If market rates exceed the cap rate, a payment or receipt is triggered on the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeCapInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370219&loc=SL20226016-175313

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (d)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20225523&loc=SL20225862-175312

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=d3e41678-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeCollateralObligationToReturnCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from issuance of rights to purchase common shares at predetermined price (usually issued together with corporate debt).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfWarrants
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Derivative Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	1 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 2015 Notes Hedges [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 2015 Notes Hedges [Member] counterparties	Sep. 30, 2010 2015 Warrants [Member] counterparties	Mar. 31, 2014 2015 Warrants [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 September 2015 Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2010 September 2015 Notes [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 SunTrust [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 SunTrust [Member] Three Month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Call Options [Member]	Apr. 28, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] counterparties partial_unwind_agreement	Apr. 28, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] 2015 Notes Hedges [Member]	Apr. 28, 2014 Subsequent Event [Member] 2015 Warrants [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Investment maturity period											1 year
Derivative collateral	$ 679.6	$ 818.2							$ 4.0
Credit risk, maximum exposure	114.5	71.7
Derivative, cap interest rate										2.50%
Interest rate swaps and caps, duration									7 years
Principal amount of convertible senior notes payable at issuance								200.0
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage							3.50%
Number of counterparties				2	2
Derivative, conversion spread, shares of common stock			7.5	16.0									4.8
Derivative asset, strike price			$ 12.35	$ 12.50									$ 12.35
Warrants, number of securities called by warrants					16.0									4.8
Warrants, strike price					$ 16.00	$ 15.75								$ 15.75
Proceeds from issuance of warrants					15.6
Warrants, deliverable					11.7
Number of partial unwind agreements												3
Number of counterparties, partial unwind agreements												2
Net cash received from counterparties for settlement of call options and warrants												$ 7.2