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Derivative Instruments (Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Included in the Consolidated Statement of Operations) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	$ (31,100)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet	$ 48,493us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	51,213us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet	92,619us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
Call Options [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	(29,220)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember	71,473us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember
2015 Notes Hedges [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	567us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_OptionOnSecuritiesMember	(20,401)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_OptionOnSecuritiesMember
Interest Rate Swap [Member]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	(1,761)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember	(1,402)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	(686)us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember	(1,177)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	50,646us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_FixedIndexAnnuityEmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember	113,020us-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	$ 567us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_A2015NotesEmbeddedConversionDerivativeMember	$ (20,401)us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = ael_A2015NotesEmbeddedConversionDerivativeMember

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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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