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Derivative Instruments (Change in Fair Value of Derivative Instruments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	$ 504,825us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	$ 1,076,015us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	$ 221,138us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	32,321us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet	133,968us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet	286,899us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
Call Options [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	521,947us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember	932,003us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember	228,610us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember
2015 Notes Hedges [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	(8,934)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_OptionOnSecuritiesMember	145,751us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_OptionOnSecuritiesMember	(2,488)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_OptionOnSecuritiesMember
2015 Warrants [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsSubjectToMandatoryRedemptionMember	(9,568)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsSubjectToMandatoryRedemptionMember	0us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_WarrantsAndRightsSubjectToMandatoryRedemptionMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	(4,863)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	4,973us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	(4,261)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Interest Rate Caps [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	(3,325)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember	2,856us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember	(723)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember
Fixed Index Annuities - Embedded Derivatives [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	47,548us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_FixedIndexAnnuityEmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember	(8,006)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_FixedIndexAnnuityEmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember	289,387us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_FixedIndexAnnuityEmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember
2015 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	(19,036)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_A2015NotesEmbeddedConversionDerivativeMember	141,974us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_A2015NotesEmbeddedConversionDerivativeMember	(2,488)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_A2015NotesEmbeddedConversionDerivativeMember
2029 Notes Embedded Conversion Derivative [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	$ 3,809us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_EmbeddedConversionDerivative2029NotesMember	$ 0us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_EmbeddedConversionDerivative2029NotesMember	$ 0us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_EmbeddedConversionDerivative2029NotesMember

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Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959

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Net Increase or Decrease in the fair value of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives included in earnings in the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4C

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624171-113959

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