CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION UNAUDITED - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 88,230	$ 39,812	$ 28,045
Investments in securities	33,190	37,285	36,419
Receivable from brokers	523	453	1,135
Investment advisory fees receivable	29,810	43,736	29,612
Receivable from affiliates	5,325	5,960	5,256
Income tax receivable and deferred tax asset	12,829	9,349	2,452
Other assets	12,615	12,634	13,006
Total assets	182,522	149,229	115,925
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Payable to brokers	10,022	66	0
Income taxes payable and deferred tax liabilities	19,787	3,815	12,198
Capital lease obligation	5,038	5,066	5,145
Compensation payable	42,295	42,384	19,218
Payable to affiliates	1,528	1,412	3,754
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	27,942	29,178	29,710
Sub-total	106,612	81,921	70,025
4.5% Convertible note (net of issuance costs of $156, $165 and $0, respectively) (due August 15, 2021) (Note F)	109,844	109,835	0
AC 4% PIK Note (due November 30, 2020) (Note F)	90,000	100,000	250,000
Loan from GGCP (due December 28, 2016) (Note F)	0	0	20,000
5.875% Senior notes (net of issuance costs of $99, $105 and $122, respectively) (due June 1, 2021) (Note F)	24,126	24,120	24,103
Total liabilities	330,582	315,876	364,128
Commitments and contingencies (Note I)
GAMCO Investors, Inc. stockholders' equity
Preferred stock, $.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding	0	0	0
Additional paid-in capital	4,602	3,903	1,382
Retained earnings (deficit)	104,749	80,515	(8,794)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	8,720	11,271	11,670
Treasury stock, at cost (5,232,891, 5,107,481 and 4,789,297 shares, respectively)	(266,164)	(262,369)	(252,494)
Total GAMCO Investors, Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	(148,060)	(166,647)	(248,203)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	182,522	149,229	115,925
Class A [Member]
GAMCO Investors, Inc. stockholders' equity
Common stock	14	14	14
Class B [Member]
GAMCO Investors, Inc. stockholders' equity
Common stock	$ 19	$ 19	$ 19

Carrying amount due within one year of the balance sheet date from income tax receivables and deferred tax assets.

No definition available.

Name:	gbl_IncomeTaxReceivableAndDeferredTaxAssets
Namespace Prefix:	gbl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.