Segment Reporting (Details 2) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Schedule of Reconciliation of Total Segments to Income Loss Attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and Total Assets
Management fees	$ 29,207	$ 31,415	$ 61,227	$ 70,053
Incentive income		6,478	5,048	12,289
Investment income	3,705	4,343	9,385	7,038
Total expenses	(207,008)	(421,384)	(374,575)	(832,031)
Interest expense	(11,860)	(13,584)	(22,850)	(26,475)
Other income, net	6,326	844	8,593	81
Other income of consolidated funds	1,017,178	(577,178)	(3,436,757)	(2,750,749)
Income taxes	(13,925)	(7,582)	(21,692)	(14,592)
Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds	(673,673)	(279,918)	(2,798,445)	(2,106,319)
Net (income) loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	(125,231)	81,851	(260,121)	108,721
Net income (loss) attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC	24,719	(20,359)	43,327	(30,486)
Investments in limited partnerships, at equity	126,034	82,957	126,034	82,957	121,825
Total assets	44,770,769	45,354,189	44,770,769	45,354,189	44,294,156
Segment [Member]
Schedule of Reconciliation of Total Segments to Income Loss Attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and Total Assets
Management fees	188,843	179,412	380,105	364,671
Incentive income	129,018	107,320	191,687	238,209
Investment income	23,241	13,546	87,581	66,563
Total expenses	(167,595)	(151,516)	(306,337)	(303,844)
Interest expense	(8,063)	(8,584)	(16,227)	(17,304)
Other income, net	66	844	2,333	81
Other income of consolidated funds
Income taxes
Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds
Net (income) loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries
Net income (loss) attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC	165,510	141,022	339,142	348,376
Investments in limited partnerships, at equity	1,195,084	1,123,888	1,195,084	1,123,888
Total assets	2,194,709	2,113,527	2,194,709	2,113,527
Adjustments [Member]
Schedule of Reconciliation of Total Segments to Income Loss Attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and Total Assets
Management fees	(159,636)	(147,997)	(318,878)	(294,618)
Incentive income	(129,018)	(100,842)	(186,639)	(225,920)
Investment income	(19,536)	(9,203)	(78,196)	(59,525)
Total expenses	(39,413)	(269,868)	(68,238)	(528,187)
Interest expense	(3,797)	(5,000)	(6,623)	(9,171)
Other income, net	6,260		6,260
Other income of consolidated funds	1,017,178	(577,178)	(3,436,757)	(2,750,749)
Income taxes	(13,925)	(7,582)	(21,692)	(14,592)
Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds	(673,673)	(279,918)	(2,798,445)	(2,106,319)
Net (income) loss attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	(125,231)	81,851	(260,121)	108,721
Net income (loss) attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC	(140,791)	(161,381)	(295,815)	(378,862)
Investments in limited partnerships, at equity	(1,069,050)	(1,040,931)	(1,069,050)	(1,040,931)
Total assets	$ 42,576,060	$ 43,240,662	$ 42,576,060	$ 43,240,662