Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Restrictions (Narrative and Statutory Accounting Practices Tables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Insurance [Abstract]
American Equity Life, statutory net income	$ 210,049	$ 375,900	$ 75,035
American Equity Life, statutory capital and surplus balance	3,251,881	3,005,654
Statutory Accounting Practices, permitted practice, amount	232,400	109,700
Total adjusted capital	3,542,339	3,260,328
Company Action Level RBC	$ 983,169	$ 861,419
Ratio of adjusted capital to Company Action Level RBC	360.00%	378.00%
Statutory Accounting Practices, Statutory Amount Available for Dividend Payments [Abstract]
Statutory amount available for dividend payments without regulatory approval	$ 325,200
Dividends paid by insurance subsidiaries	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Statutory accounting practices, dividends paid by insurance subsidiaries

No definition available.

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- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84167132&loc=SL5958568-112826

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
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-Subparagraph (c)(2)
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- Definition

Amount of each item listed to reconcile the differences as of the balance sheet date resulting from applying state permitted statutory accounting practices rather than statutory accounting practices permitted by National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24746-158529

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- Definition

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

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-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://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-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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- Definition

Amount of statutory capital required to be maintained as of the balance sheet date under prescribed or permitted statutory accounting practices.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
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-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.

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