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Retirement and Share-based Compensation Plans (2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan) (Details) - 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares authorized | 1,800,000 |  |  |  |  |
Number of shares available for future grant | 711,001 |  |  |  |  |
2015 and 2016 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Restricted Stock Units | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting rights, percentage | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting period | 1 year |  |  |  |  |
2015 and 2016 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Retirement Eligible Agent | Restricted Stock Units | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting rights, percentage | 80.00% |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting period | 3 years |  |  |  |  |
2015 and 2016 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Non-Retirement Eligible Agent | Restricted Stock Units | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting rights, percentage | 80.00% |  |  |  |  |
2015 and 2016 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Non-Retirement Eligible Agent | Restricted Stock Units | Maximum | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting period | 5 years |  |  |  |  |
2016 American Equity Life Agent Grant |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Commission expense | $ 1.4 | $ 1.6 | $ 1.3 |  |  |
2016 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity instruments granted |  |  |  | 363,624 |  |
Award vested in period | 58,617 | 57,562 | 138,820 |  |  |
2015 American Equity Life Agent Grant |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Commission expense | $ 2.2 | $ 2.4 | $ 2.2 |  |  |
2015 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity instruments granted |  |  |  |  | 650,683 |
Award vested in period | 89,382 | 89,367 | 100,586 |  |  |
2014 American Equity Life Agent Grant |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Commission expense | $ 0.1 | $ 0.9 | $ 0.8 |  |  |
2014 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Retirement Eligible Agent | Restricted Stock |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity instruments granted |  |  |  |  |  | 27,985
2014 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Non-Retirement Eligible Agent | Restricted Stock Units |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Equity instruments granted |  |  |  |  |  | 221,489
Award vested in period | 2,943 | 28,575 | 32,815 |  |  |
2014 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Non-Retirement Eligible Agent | Restricted Stock Units | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche One |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting rights, percentage | 20.00% |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting period | 1 year |  |  |  |  |
2014 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Non-Retirement Eligible Agent | Restricted Stock Units | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting rights, percentage | 80.00% |  |  |  |  |
2014 American Equity Life Agent Grant | Non-Retirement Eligible Agent | Restricted Stock Units | Maximum | Share-based Compensation Award, Tranche Two |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |
Award vesting period | 5 years |  |  |  |  |

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- Definition Period over which grantee's right to exercise award under share-based payment arrangement is no longer contingent on satisfaction of service or performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Includes, but is not limited to, combination of market, performance or service condition. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
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