Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 34,818	$ 24,449
Securities held-to-maturity		3,455
Loans receivable, net	19,282	606,318
Loans held-for-sale, net		5,750
Equity investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries	10,399	8,932
Accrued interest receivable		2,392
Deferred income taxes	1,268	658
Prepaid expenses and other assets	4,533	9,952
Subtotal, assets	70,300	661,906
Total assets	1,366,316	4,120,690
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	8,075	6,726
Repurchase obligations		372,582
Senior credit facility		98,124
Junior subordinated notes		132,190
Secured notes	7,847
Participations sold	19,282	259,304
Interest rate hedge liabilities		8,451
Subtotal, liabilities	35,204	877,377
Total liabilities	1,495,255	4,531,877
Commitments and contingencies
Equity (deficit):
Additional paid-in capital	597,049	559,411
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(40,584)	(50,462)
Accumulated deficit	(667,111)	(920,355)
Total Capital Trust, Inc. shareholders' deficit	(110,424)	(411,187)
Noncontrolling interests	(18,515)
Total deficit	(128,939)	(411,187)
Total liabilities and equity (deficit)	1,366,316	4,120,690
Class A Common Stock
Equity (deficit):
Class A common stock: $0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized, 21,967 and 21,917 shares issued and outstanding, respectively ("class A common stock"); restricted class A common stock: $0.01 par value, 244 and 33 shares issued and outstanding, respectively ("restricted class A common stock" and together with class A common stock, "common stock")	220	219
Restricted Class A Common Stock
Equity (deficit):
Class A common stock: $0.01 par value, 100,000 shares authorized, 21,967 and 21,917 shares issued and outstanding, respectively ("class A common stock"); restricted class A common stock: $0.01 par value, 244 and 33 shares issued and outstanding, respectively ("restricted class A common stock" and together with class A common stock, "common stock")	2
CT Legacy REIT, Excluding Securitization Vehicles
Assets
Restricted cash	12,985
Securities held-to-maturity	2,602
Loans receivable, net	206,514
Loans held-for-sale, net	30,875
Accrued interest receivable and other assets	2,119
Subtotal, assets	255,095
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	743
Repurchase obligations	58,464
Mezzanine loan, net of unamortized discount	55,111
Participations sold	97,465
Interest rate hedge liabilities	8,817
Subtotal, liabilities	220,600
Securitization Vehicles
Assets
Securities held-to-maturity	358,972	504,323
Loans receivable, net	612,598	2,891,379
Real estate held-for-sale	10,342	8,055
Accrued interest receivable and other assets	59,009	55,027
Subtotal, assets	1,040,921	3,458,784
Liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	3,102	3,809
Securitized debt obligations	1,211,407	3,621,229
Interest rate hedge liabilities	24,942	29,462
Subtotal, liabilities	$ 1,239,451	$ 3,654,500