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Subordinated Debentures (Summary of Subordinated Debt Obligations to the Trusts) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
American Equity Capital Trust II [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Interest rate |  | 5.00% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Jun. 01, 2047 |
American Equity Capital Trust III [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
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] |  |  |
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] |  |  |
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] |  |  |
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] |  |  |
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] |  |  |
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] |  |  |
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] |  |  |
Description of variable rate basis | [1] | *LIBOR + |
Basis spread on variable rate |  | 3.50% |
Subordinated borrowing, due date |  | Apr. 07, 2036 |
Subordinated Debentures [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | $ 246,671 | $ 246,450
Unamortized debt issue costs |  | (4,818) | (4,998)
Subordinated debentures |  | 241,853 | 241,452
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust II [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | 77,061 | 76,840
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust III [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | 27,840 | 27,840
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust IV [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | 12,372 | 12,372
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust VII [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | 10,830 | 10,830
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust VIII [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | 20,620 | 20,620
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust IX [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | 15,470 | 15,470
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust X [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | 20,620 | 20,620
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust XI [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | 20,620 | 20,620
Subordinated Debentures [Member] | American Equity Capital Trust XII [Member] |  |  |
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items] |  |  |
Subordinated debentures, gross |  | $ 41,238 | $ 41,238
[1] | three month London Interbank Offered Rate

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- Definition Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt. + 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)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: 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 3: 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 + Details
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- Definition Amount, after unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, debentures, mortgage loans and commercial paper. Excludes capital lease obligations. + 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(a)(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 FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
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