<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2023"
  xmlns:iso4217="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:us-gaap="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2023"
  xmlns:xbrldi="http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="ael-20240507.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="AsOf2024-05-07">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001039828</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2024-05-07</startDate>
            <endDate>2024-05-07</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_CommonStockMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001039828</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">us-gaap:CommonStockMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2024-05-07</startDate>
            <endDate>2024-05-07</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_SeriesAPreferredStockMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001039828</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">us-gaap:SeriesAPreferredStockMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2024-05-07</startDate>
            <endDate>2024-05-07</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0001039828</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2024-05-07</startDate>
            <endDate>2024-05-07</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <unit id="USD">
        <measure>iso4217:USD</measure>
    </unit>
    <unit id="Shares">
        <measure>shares</measure>
    </unit>
    <unit id="USDPShares">
        <divide>
            <unitNumerator>
                <measure>iso4217:USD</measure>
            </unitNumerator>
            <unitDenominator>
                <measure>shares</measure>
            </unitDenominator>
        </divide>
    </unit>
    <dei:CurrentFiscalYearEndDate contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000003">--12-31</dei:CurrentFiscalYearEndDate>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000004">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000005">0001039828</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="xdx2ixbrl0013">AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:DocumentType contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000011">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000012">2024-05-07</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000014">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000015">001-31911</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000016">42-1447959</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1 contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000017">6000     Westown Parkway</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000018">West     Des Moines</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000019">IA</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000020">50266</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000021">515</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000022">221-0002</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:EntityInformationFormerLegalOrRegisteredName contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000023">American Equity Investment Life Holding Company</dei:EntityInformationFormerLegalOrRegisteredName>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000024">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000025">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000026">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000027">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_CommonStockMember"
      id="Fact000028">Common stock, par value $1</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_CommonStockMember"
      id="Fact000029">AEL</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_CommonStockMember"
      id="Fact000030">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_SeriesAPreferredStockMember"
      id="Fact000031">Depositary Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 5.95% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_SeriesAPreferredStockMember"
      id="Fact000032">AELPRA</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_SeriesAPreferredStockMember"
      id="Fact000033">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember"
      id="Fact000034">Depositary     Shares, each representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of 6.625% Fixed-Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series     B</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember"
      id="Fact000035">AELPRB</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="From2024-05-072024-05-07_us-gaap_SeriesBPreferredStockMember"
      id="Fact000036">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany contextRef="AsOf2024-05-07" id="Fact000037">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
