Organization (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified		0 Months Ended		189 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Feb. 10, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012 CT Investment Management Co, LLC	Sep. 30, 2012 Blackstone Definitive Agreement	Sep. 30, 2012 Capital Trust, Inc.	Sep. 30, 2012 W. R. Berkley Corporation	Sep. 30, 2012 March 2011 Restructuring Capital Trust, Inc.
Completed commercial real estate debt investments				$ 12,100,000
Mezzanine loan						83,000
Retained unencumbered ownership						100.00%
Equity interest in the common stock of CT Legacy REIT						52.00%
Ownership of preferred stock CT Legacy REIT						100.00%
Cumulative preferred dividends per annum						Class A preferred stock initially entitles us to cumulative preferred dividends of $7.5 million per annum, which dividends will be reduced in January 2013 to the greater of (i) 2.5% of certain of CT Legacy REIT's assets, and (ii)$1.0 million per annum.
Refinance with repurchase facility	124,000
Purchase agreement, description		On September 27, 2012, we announced our entry into a definitive purchase and sale agreement, or Purchase Agreement, with an affiliate, which we refer to as the Purchaser, of The Blackstone Group L.P., which we refer to as Blackstone. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Purchaser will acquire our investment management and special servicing businesses, operated through our subsidiary, CT Investment Management Co., LLC, or CTIMCO, and our related private investment fund co-investments.
Purchase agreement, consideration to be received			20,600
Purchase agreement, equity stake of Capital Trust to be acquired (as a percent)			17.10%
Purchase price of Class A common shares of Capital Trust to be acquired			$ 10,000
Class A common shares of Capital Trust to be acquired, shares			5,000,000
Class A common shares of Capital Trust to be acquired, price per share			$ 2.00
Special cash dividend to be declared			$ 2.00
Beneficially owned common stock (as a percent)					15.90%