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Retirement and Share-based Compensation Plans (Changes in the Number of Stock Options Outstanding) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Outstanding, number of shares	4,044,175us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	3,976,725us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	5,732,450us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber	4,844,850us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Outstanding, weighted-average exercise price per share	$ 15.02us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 10.86us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 10.35us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 10.13us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Outstanding, total exercise price	$ 60,760ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingTotalExercisePrice	$ 43,171ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingTotalExercisePrice	$ 59,321ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingTotalExercisePrice	$ 49,097ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingTotalExercisePrice
Granted, number of shares	1,277,650us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	1,210,950us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross	1,558,900us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
Granted, weighted-average exercise price per share	$ 24.79us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 13.13us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 10.40us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Granted, total exercise price	31,673ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodTotalExercisePrice	15,899ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodTotalExercisePrice	16,216ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodTotalExercisePrice
Canceled, number of shares	(35,400)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	(29,400)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod	(28,050)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
Canceled, weighted-average exercise price per share	$ 11.64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 9.96us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 8.97us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Canceled, total exercise price	(412)ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodTotalExercisePrice	(293)ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodTotalExercisePrice	(251)ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodTotalExercisePrice
Exercised, number of shares	(1,174,800)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	(2,937,275)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised	(643,250)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
Exercised, weighted-average exercise price per share	$ 11.64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 10.81us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice	$ 8.93us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Exercised, total exercise price	$ (13,672)ael_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedinPeriodTotalExercisePrice	$ (31,756)ael_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedinPeriodTotalExercisePrice	$ (5,741)ael_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedinPeriodTotalExercisePrice

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Total exercise price attributable to options exercised in the period based upon the number of options exercised and their weighted average exercise price.

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The number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan.

+ 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 (c)(1)(iv)(3)

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Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan.

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Weighted average price at which option holders acquired shares when converting their stock options into shares.

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