Represents the number of shares in connection with public offering under the equity forward transaction.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_EquityForwardTransactionSharesInConnectionWithPublicOffering
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of times of potential issuances under the forward sale agreement.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of shares that the underwriters have an option to purchase for a definite time period after close of forward equity transaction.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period remaining until the derivative contract matures, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The per share price of the Company's stock at which the contract holder of the freestanding contract has the right to purchase or sell the Company's stock at a future date.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6445032&loc=d3e90205-114008

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 480

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (f)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6940734&loc=d3e22047-110879

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The maximum number of shares that could be issued to net share settle a contract, if applicable. If a contract does not have a fixed or determinable maximum number of shares that may be required to be issued, disclose the fact that a potentially infinite number of shares could be issued to settle the contract.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquityShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity.

+ 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

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

-Publisher FASB

-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

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of new stock issued during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

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

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Earnings Per Share (Stockholders' Equity) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2015 USD ($) occasions $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Forward Contract Indexed to Issuer's Equity [Line Items]
Public offering related to equity forward transaction, shares	8,600,000
Forward rate per share \| $ / shares	$ 25.25
Shares subject to forward sale agreement	4,300,000
Stock issued during period, shares	4,300,000
Proceeds from issuance of common stock \| $	$ 104,500	$ 111,274	$ 10,038
Optional shares available to underwriters	1,290,000
Minimum [Member]
Forward Contract Indexed to Issuer's Equity [Line Items]
Number of potential issuances under the forward sale agreement \| occasions	1
Maximum [Member]
Forward Contract Indexed to Issuer's Equity [Line Items]
Forward sale agreement maturity	12 months