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Retirement and Share-based Compensation Plans (Deferred Compensation Arrangements) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Deferred Compensation Plans, Certain Officers, Directors and Consultants [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Shares earned and reserved for future issuance	362,287ael_DeferredCompensationSharesEarnedAndReservedForFutureIssuance / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansCertainOfficersDirectorsAndConsultantsMember	356,897ael_DeferredCompensationSharesEarnedAndReservedForFutureIssuance / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansCertainOfficersDirectorsAndConsultantsMember
Share-based compensation expense	$ 127,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualAllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansCertainOfficersDirectorsAndConsultantsMember	$ 162,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualAllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansCertainOfficersDirectorsAndConsultantsMember	$ 200,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualAllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansCertainOfficersDirectorsAndConsultantsMember
Deferred Compensation Plans, Officer Rabbi Trust [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Deferred compensation liability	$ 3,900,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationCashbasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansAmericanEquityOfficerRabbiTrustMember	$ 3,100,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationCashbasedArrangementsLiabilityCurrentAndNoncurrent / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansAmericanEquityOfficerRabbiTrustMember
Shares held	102,551ael_DeferredCompensationPlansSharesHeld / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansAmericanEquityOfficerRabbiTrustMember	103,551ael_DeferredCompensationPlansSharesHeld / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansAmericanEquityOfficerRabbiTrustMember
Deferred Compensation Plans, NMO Deferred Compensation Plan [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Award vesting period	9 years
Undistributed vested shares	543,120ael_DeferredCompensationPlansVestedandUndistributedShares / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansNmoDeferredCompensationPlanMember	892,688ael_DeferredCompensationPlansVestedandUndistributedShares / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansNmoDeferredCompensationPlanMember
Deferred Compensation Plans, NMO Trust [Member]
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Postretirement Benefits [Line Items]
Shares held	543,120ael_DeferredCompensationPlansSharesHeld / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansNmoRabbiTrustMember	892,688ael_DeferredCompensationPlansSharesHeld / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansNmoRabbiTrustMember
Shares distributed	349,568ael_DeferredCompensationPlansSharesDistributed / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansNmoRabbiTrustMember	249,644ael_DeferredCompensationPlansSharesDistributed / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansNmoRabbiTrustMember	489,216ael_DeferredCompensationPlansSharesDistributed / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_DeferredCompensationPlansNmoRabbiTrustMember

X

- Definition

Item represents the number of shares that were distributed to participants.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Item represents the number of shares held as of the end of the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Item represents the number of shares that have vested and remain undistributed at the end of the reporting period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Item represents the number of shares earned by individuals under deferred compensation plans that have been reserved for issuance at a future date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of expense recognized from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments), awarded to key employees or individuals. Excludes amount related to plans that cover generally all employees (for example, but not limited to, qualified pension plans).

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Aggregate carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the liabilities for deferred compensation arrangements. Represents currently earned compensation under cash arrangements (such as a profit-sharing plan, rabbi trust, and employee contract--excluding equity-based arrangements) that is not actually paid until a later date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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X

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Details

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