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Investments (Credit Quality of Fixed Maturity Security Portfolio by NAIC Designation) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	$ 30,281,478ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost	$ 26,603,985ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost
Fair value	32,521,040ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue	26,671,287ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue
NAIC, Class 1 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	19,223,151ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass1DesignationMember	16,394,654ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass1DesignationMember
Fair value	20,941,634ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass1DesignationMember	16,531,250ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass1DesignationMember
NAIC, Class 2 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	10,432,593ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass2DesignationMember	9,630,251ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass2DesignationMember
Fair value	10,981,618ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass2DesignationMember	9,598,399ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass2DesignationMember
NAIC, Class 3 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	602,191ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass3DesignationMember	502,822ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass3DesignationMember
Fair value	583,313ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass3DesignationMember	474,165ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass3DesignationMember
NAIC, Class 4 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	22,888ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass4DesignationMember	74,493ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass4DesignationMember
Fair value	14,089ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass4DesignationMember	66,078ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass4DesignationMember
NAIC, Class 5 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	0ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass5DesignationMember	0ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass5DesignationMember
Fair value	0ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass5DesignationMember	0ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass5DesignationMember
NAIC, Class 6 Designation [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Amortized cost	655ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass6DesignationMember	1,765ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityAmortizedCost / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass6DesignationMember
Fair value	$ 386ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass6DesignationMember	$ 1,395ael_FixedMaturitySecuritiesAvailableForSaleAndHeldToMaturityFairValue / invest_InvestmentSectorAxis = ael_NAICClass6DesignationMember

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