The price per share that we will be entitled to receive if we opt to exercise the call options of the 2015 notes hedge.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of shares that is the basis for the amount of cash that we are entitled to if we exercise the call options in the 2015 notes hedge.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Represents the number of years the interest rate swaps and caps have until maturity.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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- Definition

Investment maturity period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Number of counterparties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

The principal amount of convertible senior notes payable at the time the securities were issued.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Exercise price of the warrants.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column A

+ Details

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Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of securities into which the class of warrant or right may be converted. For example, but not limited to, 500,000 warrants may be converted into 1,000,000 shares.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(i)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph i

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum amount of loss due to credit risk that, based on the gross fair value of the financial instrument, the entity would incur if parties to the financial instruments that make up the concentration failed completely to perform according to the terms of the contracts and the collateral or other security, if any, for the amount due proved to be of no value to the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 825

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 21

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35750535&loc=d3e13537-108611

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Cap rate on an interest rate derivative such as an interest rate cap or collar. If market rates exceed the cap rate, a payment or receipt is triggered on the contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of obligation to return cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative assets.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226016-175313

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (d)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=d3e41678-113959

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of right to receive cash collateral under master netting arrangements that have not been offset against derivative liabilities.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from issuance of rights to purchase common shares at predetermined price (usually issued together with corporate debt).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Financing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 14

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3255-108585

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Derivative Instruments (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative collateral		$ 541.7	$ 743.0
Credit risk, maximum exposure		89.1	47.4
2015 Notes Hedges [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of counterparties	2
Derivative, conversion spread, shares of common stock	16.0	1.8	1.8
Derivative asset, strike price	$ 12.50	$ 12.25	$ 12.25
2015 Warrants [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Warrants, number of securities called by warrants	16.0	1.8	1.8
Warrants, strike price	$ 16.00	$ 15.68	$ 15.68
Proceeds from issuance of warrants	15.6
September 2015 Notes [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Principal amount of convertible senior notes payable at issuance	200.0
Debt instrument, interest rate, stated percentage		3.50%
SunTrust [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Interest rate swaps and caps, duration		7 years
Collateral on deposit		$ 1.7
SunTrust [Member] \| Three Month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Derivative, cap interest rate		2.50%
Call Options [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Investment maturity period		1 year