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Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Restrictions (Narrative and Statutory Accounting Practices Tables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Insurance [Abstract]
American Equity Life, statutory net income	$ 75,035	$ 131,452	$ 340,000
American Equity Life, statutory capital and surplus balance	2,726,664	2,415,419
Total adjusted capital	2,933,193	2,593,472
Company Action Level RBC	$ 857,321	$ 771,293
Ratio of adjusted capital to Company Action Level RBC	342.00%	336.00%
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments [Abstract]
Statutory amount available for dividend payments without regulatory approval	$ 272,700
Dividends paid by insurance subsidiaries	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

X

- Definition

Statutory accounting practices, dividends paid by insurance subsidiaries

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Capital and surplus level that would require corporate action.

+ References

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- Definition

Represents the total adjusted capital and surplus balance for purposes of calculating risk based capital.

+ References

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- Definition

Total Capital divided by risk weighted assets as defined in the regulations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1H
-Subparagraph (c)(2)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=d3e65071-112826

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35709795&loc=SL5958568-112826

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- Definition

Amount of dividends that can be declared or paid without approval of regulatory agency.

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

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- Definition

The amount of statutory capital and surplus (stockholders' equity) as of the balance sheet date using prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices (rather than GAAP, if different) of the state or country.

+ 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)(23)(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24708-158529

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- Definition

Amount of net income for the period determined using accounting principles prescribed or permitted by insurance regulators.

+ 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)(23)(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

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