CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Revenues
Investment advisory and incentive fees	$ 329,965	$ 360,498	$ 326,325
Distribution fees and other income	51,011	61,438	52,034
Total revenues	380,976	421,936	378,359
Expenses
Compensation	136,503	151,255	138,859
Stock based compensation	9,868	5,278	1,562
Management fee	15,503	18,663	14,344
Distribution costs	51,990	59,746	50,195
Other operating expenses	19,163	17,542	16,541
Total expenses	233,027	252,484	221,501
Operating income	147,949	169,452	156,858
Other income (expense)
Net gain from investments	4,953	4,282	5,145
Extinguishment of debt	(1,067)	(84)	(998)
Interest and dividend income	2,222	2,154	2,661
Interest expense	(8,636)	(7,653)	(10,033)
Shareholder-designated contributions	(6,396)	(134)	(10,626)
Total other income (expense), net	(8,924)	(1,435)	(13,851)
Income before income taxes	139,025	168,017	143,007
Income tax provision	51,726	61,734	52,974
Income from continuing operations	87,299	106,283	90,033
Income/(loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(3,887)	3,107	26,820
Net income attributable to GAMCO Investors, Inc.'s shareholders	$ 83,412	$ 109,390	$ 116,853
Net income per share attributable to GAMCO Investors, Inc.'s shareholders:
Basic - Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 3.43	$ 4.20	$ 3.51
Basic - Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.15)	0.12	1.05
Basic - Total (in dollars per share)	3.28	4.32	4.56
Diluted - Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	3.40	4.16	3.50
Diluted - Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.15)	0.12	1.04
Diluted - Total (in dollars per share)	$ 3.24	$ 4.28	$ 4.54
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	25,425	25,335	25,653
Diluted (in shares)	25,711	25,558	25,712
Actual shares outstanding (in shares)	29,821	25,855	26,086