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Subordinated Debentures (Narrative) (Details) (American Equity Capital Trust II [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014
American Equity Capital Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures, principal amount	$ 100.0ael_SubordinatedDebtPrincipalAmount / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiMember
Subordinated debentures, fair value at issuance	$ 74.7ael_SubordinatedDebtFairValueAtIssuance / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiMember
Interest rate, effective percentage	6.80%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiMember
Ownership percentage, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation	50.00%ael_OwnershipPercentageIowaFarmBureauFederation / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiMember

X

- Definition

Item represents the percentage ownership of voting capital stock held by Iowa Farm Bureau Federation of FBL Financial Group, Inc. (parent of EquiTrust). The trust preferred securities issued by American Equity Capital Trust II were issued to Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_OwnershipPercentageIowaFarmBureauFederation
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Item represents the fair value of subordinated debentures issued by American Equity Capital Trust II at issuance and is based upon the effective yield-to-maturity of 6.8%.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

The stated principal amount of subordinated debt at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

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

+ Details

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

X

- Details

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