CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION UNAUDITED (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 288,685	$ 276,340	$ 335,656
Investments in securities	235,445	238,333	214,759
Investments in sponsored registered investment companies	64,223	59,214	55,564
Investments in partnerships	102,604	100,893	98,286
Receivable from brokers	55,159	20,913	67,064
Investment advisory fees receivable	29,187	32,156	23,451
Income tax receivable	1,018	39	227
Other assets	22,250	28,861	25,883
Total assets	798,571	756,749	820,890
Liabilities and Equity
Payable to brokers	28,039	10,770	15,590
Income taxes payable and deferred tax liabilities	16,445	15,296	21,235
Capital lease obligation	4,982	5,072	5,100
Compensation payable	33,998	17,695	31,559
Securities sold, not yet purchased	3,856	5,488	6,743
Mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,356	1,386	1,490
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	30,175	24,441	31,450
Sub-total	118,851	80,148	113,167
5.5% Senior notes (due May 15, 2013)	99,000	99,000	99,000
5.875% Senior notes (due June 1, 2021)	100,000	100,000	100,000
Zero coupon subordinated debentures, Face value: $21.8 million at September 30, 2012, $86.3 million at December 31, 2011 and $86.4 million at September 30, 2011 (due December 31, 2015)	17,118	64,119	62,973
Total liabilities	334,969	343,267	375,140
Redeemable noncontrolling interests	20,228	6,071	38,050
Commitments and contingencies (Note J)	0	0	0
GAMCO Investors, Inc. stockholders' equity
Preferred Stock	0	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	267,914	264,409	264,028
Retained earnings	450,326	409,191	413,295
Accumulated other comprehensive income	26,307	22,520	18,425
Total GAMCO Investors, Inc. stockholders' equity	440,013	403,972	404,000
Noncontrolling interests	3,361	3,439	3,700
Total equity	443,374	407,411	407,700
Total liabilities and equity	798,571	756,749	820,890
Class A [Member]
GAMCO Investors, Inc. stockholders' equity
Common Stock	13	13	13
Treasury stock, at cost (7,218,776, 6,943,248 and 6,934,243 shares, respectively)	(304,567)	(292,181)	(291,781)
Class B [Member]
GAMCO Investors, Inc. stockholders' equity
Common Stock	$ 20	$ 20	$ 20

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the unpaid sum of the known and estimated amounts payable to satisfy all domestic and foreign income tax obligations due and the cumulative amount for all deferred tax liabilities as of the balance sheet date arising from temporary differences between accounting income in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and tax-basis income that will result in future taxable income exceeding future accounting income.

No definition available.