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Subordinated Debentures (Summary of Subordinated Debt Obligations to the Trusts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 246,450 | $ 246,243
American Equity Capital Trust II [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 76,840 | 76,633
Interest rate |  | 5.00% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Jun. 01, 2047 |
American Equity Capital Trust III [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 27,840 | 27,840
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.90% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Apr. 29, 2034 |
American Equity Capital Trust IV [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 12,372 | 12,372
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 4.00% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Jan. 08, 2034 |
American Equity Capital Trust VII [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 10,830 | 10,830
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.75% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Dec. 14, 2034 |
American Equity Capital Trust VIII [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 20,620 | 20,620
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.75% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Dec. 15, 2034 |
American Equity Capital Trust IX [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 15,470 | 15,470
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.65% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Jun. 15, 2035 |
American Equity Capital Trust X [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 20,620 | 20,620
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.65% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Sep. 15, 2035 |
American Equity Capital Trust XI [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 20,620 | 20,620
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.65% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Dec. 15, 2035 |
American Equity Capital Trust XII [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures |  | $ 41,238 | $ 41,238
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.50% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Apr. 07, 2036 |
[1] | three month London Interbank Offered Rate

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- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: 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 + Details
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- Definition Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of subordinated debt (with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Subordinated debt places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Article 5 -Subsection 19, 20, 22 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) -Number Topic 10 -Section F + Details
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