    <SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-24-058469-index.html : 20240508
    <SEC-HEADER>0001104659-24-058469.hdr.sgml : 20240508
    <ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20240508092107
    ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-24-058469
    CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
    PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		22
    CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20240507
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Regulation FD Disclosure
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
    ITEM INFORMATION:		Financial Statements and Exhibits
    FILED AS OF DATE:		20240508
    DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20240508

    FILER:

    	COMPANY DATA:
    		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO
    		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001039828
    		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LIFE INSURANCE [6311]
    		ORGANIZATION NAME:           	02 Finance
    		IRS NUMBER:				421447959
    		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IA
    		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

    	FILING VALUES:
    		FORM TYPE:		8-K
    		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
    		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31911
    		FILM NUMBER:		24924501

    	BUSINESS ADDRESS:
    		STREET 1:		6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY
    		CITY:			WEST DEMOINES
    		STATE:			IA
    		ZIP:			50266
    		BUSINESS PHONE:		5152210002

    	MAIL ADDRESS:
    		STREET 1:		6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY
    		CITY:			WEST DES MOINES
    		STATE:			IA
    		ZIP:			50266
    </SEC-HEADER>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>8-K
    <SEQUENCE>1
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_8k.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>FORM 8-K
    <TEXT>
    Document 1 - file: tm2413694d1_8k.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-2.1
    <SEQUENCE>2
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_ex2-1.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 2.1
    <TEXT>
    Document 2 - file: tm2413694d1_ex2-1.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-2.2
    <SEQUENCE>3
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_ex2-2.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 2.2
    <TEXT>
    Document 3 - file: tm2413694d1_ex2-2.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-3.1
    <SEQUENCE>4
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_ex3-1.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 3.1
    <TEXT>
    Document 4 - file: tm2413694d1_ex3-1.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-3.2
    <SEQUENCE>5
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_ex3-2.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 3.2
    <TEXT>
    Document 5 - file: tm2413694d1_ex3-2.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-3.3
    <SEQUENCE>6
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_ex3-3.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 3.3
    <TEXT>
    Document 6 - file: tm2413694d1_ex3-3.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-4.1
    <SEQUENCE>7
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_ex4-1.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4.1
    <TEXT>
    Document 7 - file: tm2413694d1_ex4-1.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-4.2
    <SEQUENCE>8
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_ex4-2.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 4.2
    <TEXT>
    Document 8 - file: tm2413694d1_ex4-2.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-10.1
    <SEQUENCE>9
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_ex10-1.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 10.1
    <TEXT>
    Document 9 - file: tm2413694d1_ex10-1.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.SCH
    <SEQUENCE>10
    <FILENAME>ael-20240507.xsd
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA
    <TEXT>
    Document 10 - file: ael-20240507.xsd

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.DEF
    <SEQUENCE>11
    <FILENAME>ael-20240507_def.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE
    <TEXT>
    Document 11 - file: ael-20240507_def.xml

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.LAB
    <SEQUENCE>12
    <FILENAME>ael-20240507_lab.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE
    <TEXT>
    Document 12 - file: ael-20240507_lab.xml

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EX-101.PRE
    <SEQUENCE>13
    <FILENAME>ael-20240507_pre.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE
    <TEXT>
    Document 13 - file: ael-20240507_pre.xml

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>15
    <FILENAME>R1.htm
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 15 - file: R1.htm

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>EXCEL
    <SEQUENCE>16
    <FILENAME>Financial_Report.xlsx
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 16 - file: Financial_Report.xlsx

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>17
    <FILENAME>Show.js
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 17 - file: Show.js

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>18
    <FILENAME>report.css
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 18 - file: report.css

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>20
    <FILENAME>FilingSummary.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 20 - file: FilingSummary.html

    Document 20 - RAW XML: FilingSummary.xml

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>JSON
    <SEQUENCE>23
    <FILENAME>MetaLinks.json
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 23 - file: MetaLinks.json

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>ZIP
    <SEQUENCE>24
    <FILENAME>0001104659-24-058469-xbrl.zip
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 24 - file: 0001104659-24-058469-xbrl.zip

    </DOCUMENT>
    <DOCUMENT>
    <TYPE>XML
    <SEQUENCE>26
    <FILENAME>tm2413694d1_8k_htm.xml
    <DESCRIPTION>IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
    <TEXT>
    Document 26 - file: tm2413694d1_8k_htm.html

    Document 26 - RAW XML: tm2413694d1_8k_htm.xml

    </DOCUMENT>
    </SEC-DOCUMENT>