Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Statements of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Operating activities
Net income	$ 126,023us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 253,283us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 57,798us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Change in fair value of 2015 notes embedded conversion derivative	32,321	133,968	286,899
Provision for depreciation and amortization	9,490us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	18,375us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization	18,404us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Change in fair value of derivatives	(506,328)	(1,076,015)	(221,138)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	12,502	32,515	0
Share-based compensation	3,544us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	10,476us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation	6,552us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
ESOP compensation	2,486	3,464	1,112
Deferred income taxes (benefits)	(46,504)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	3,013us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(52,336)us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Other	(8,948)	(7,059)	(857)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other assets	(2,771)	1,113	(7,090)
Other liabilities	(51,008)	(11,435)	5,927
Net cash provided by operating activities	707,786	862,668	784,314
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,947,749)	(3,879,296)	(2,129,490)
Financing activities
Financing fees incurred and deferred	(100)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	(11,942)us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts	0us-gaap_PaymentsOfFinancingCosts
Repayment of notes payable	(219,094)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfNotesPayable	(234,154)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfNotesPayable	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfNotesPayable
Net proceeds from settlement of notes hedge and warrants	16,558ael_PurchaseOfCallSpread2015NotesHedges	22,170ael_PurchaseOfCallSpread2015NotesHedges	0ael_PurchaseOfCallSpread2015NotesHedges
Repayment of subordinated debentures	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSubordinatedDebt	0us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSubordinatedDebt	(1,141)us-gaap_RepaymentsOfSubordinatedDebt
Excess tax benefits realized from share-based compensation plans	5,184	4,043	481
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	13,681	31,764	5,741
Dividends paid	(15,015)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(12,643)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock	(9,203)us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividendsCommonStock
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	2,043,948	2,645,612	2,208,769
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(196,015)	(371,016)	863,593
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	897,529	1,268,545	404,952
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	701,514	897,529	1,268,545
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest paid	42,989us-gaap_InterestPaid	25,608us-gaap_InterestPaid	27,666us-gaap_InterestPaid
Non-cash financing activity:
Conversion of subordinated debentures	0	0	20,770
Common stock issued in extinguishment of debt	95,993	117,463	0
Parent Company [Member]
Operating activities
Net income	126,023	253,283	57,798
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Change in fair value of 2015 notes embedded conversion derivative	(15,227)	141,974	(2,488)
Provision for depreciation and amortization	2,081	2,831	2,382
Accrual of discount on equity security	(6)	(5)	(5)
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries	(134,890)	(279,961)	(65,777)
Accrual of discount on contingent convertible notes	4,417	12,417	12,261
Change in fair value of derivatives	15,619	(144,012)	7,472
Loss on extinguishment of debt	12,502	32,515	0
Accrual of discount on debenture issued to subsidiary trust	193	181	169
Share-based compensation	1,141	1,407	1,348
ESOP compensation	82	110	45
Deferred income taxes (benefits)	6,439	(5,202)	(2,838)
Other	(2,235)	(3,608)	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivable from subsidiaries	2,208	995	1,205
Federal income tax recoverable	1,121	62	(2,745)
Other assets	378	(1,945)	(549)
Other liabilities	(7,256)	20,131	(4,528)
Net cash provided by operating activities	12,590	31,173	3,750
Investing activities
Net cash used in investing activities	0	0	0
Financing activities
Financing fees incurred and deferred	(100)	(11,942)	0
Proceeds from notes payable	0	415,000	0
Repayment of notes payable	(219,094)	(234,154)	0
Net proceeds from settlement of notes hedge and warrants	16,558	22,170	0
Repayment of subordinated debentures	0	0	(1,141)
Excess tax benefits realized from share-based compensation plans	184	159	6
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	13,681	31,764	5,370
Dividends paid	(15,221)	(12,849)	(9,374)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(203,992)	210,148	(5,139)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(191,402)	241,321	(1,389)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	252,541	11,220	12,609
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	61,139	252,541	11,220
Non-cash financing activity:
Conversion of subordinated debentures	0	0	20,770
Common stock issued in extinguishment of debt	95,993	117,463	0
Parent Company [Member] \| Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest paid	31,206	13,758	14,564
Parent Company [Member] \| Convertible Subordinated Debentures [Member]
Cash paid during the year for:
Interest paid	$ 11,765	$ 11,850	$ 13,102

The component of interest expense representing the noncash expenses charged against earnings in the period to amortize debt discount and premium associated with the related debt instruments. Excludes amortization of financing costs. Alternate caption: Noncash Interest Expense.

No definition available.