Derivative Instruments (Change in Fair Value of Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	$ (2,352,598)	$ (358,302)	$ (1,286,787)
Call Options
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Derivative, term of contract	1 year
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	$ (1,104,547)	1,348,735	34,666
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	(2,352,598)	(358,302)	(1,286,787)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Call Options
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	(1,118,768)	1,347,925	34,604
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Warrants
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	264	810	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest Rate Swaps
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	13,957	0	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest Rate Caps
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of derivatives	0	0	62
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Fixed Index Annuities - Embedded Derivatives
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	(2,561,676)	(876,803)	(1,922,085)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other Changes in Difference Between Policy Benefit Reserves Computed Using Derivative Accounting Vs. Long-Duration Contracts Accounting
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	648,580	520,863	635,298
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Reinsurance Related Embedded Derivative
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	$ (439,502)	$ (2,362)	$ 0

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of realized and unrealized gain (loss) of derivative instruments not designated or qualifying as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4CC
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=125515794&loc=SL109998890-113959

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=125515794&loc=SL5624171-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsGainLossNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period the derivative contract is outstanding, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeTermOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net Increase or Decrease in the fair value of the embedded derivative or group of embedded derivatives included in earnings in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 15
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2229187

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeGainLossOnEmbeddedDerivativeNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CallOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EquityContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateSwapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateCapMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_EmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=ael_OtherChangesinDifferenceBetweenPolicyBenefitReservesComputedUsingDerivativeAccountingVsLongDurationContractsAccountingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=ael_EmbeddedDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsReinsuranceRelatedMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: