SEGMENT REPORTING - Schedule of Reconciliation of Total Segments to Income Loss Attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC and Total Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Expenses incurred by Non-Operating Group	$ (210)		$ (178)
Management fees	42,539	[1]	32,020	[1]
Incentive income	0	[1]	5,048	[1]
Investment income	12,243	[1]	5,680	[1]
Total expenses	(275,505)	[2]	(167,567)	[3]
Interest Expense, Net	(11,581)	[4]	(10,990)	[4]
Other income (expense), net	(20)		2,267
Other income of consolidated funds	2,626,029	[5]	2,419,579	[5]
Income taxes	(10,157)	[6]	(7,767)	[6]
Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds	(2,063,965)		(2,124,772)
Net income attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	(262,017)	[7]	(134,890)	[7]
Net income attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC	57,566		18,608
Corporate investments, at equity	95,652	[8]	125,714	[8]	98,950
Total assets	44,917,078	[9]	45,498,028		43,869,998
Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Management fees	184,214	[1]	191,262	[1]
Incentive income	327,184	[1]	62,669	[1]
Investment income	82,050	[1]	64,340	[1]
Total expenses	(250,271)	[2]	(138,742)	[3]
Interest Expense, Net	(7,407)	[4]	(8,164)	[4]
Other income (expense), net	(20)		2,267
Other income of consolidated funds	0	[5]	0	[5]
Income taxes	0		0
Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds	0		0
Net income attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	0		0
Net income attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC	335,750		173,632
Corporate investments, at equity	1,117,848	[8]	1,178,784	[8]
Total assets	2,500,367	[9]	2,072,424
Adjustments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Management fees	(141,675)	[1]	(159,242)	[1]
Incentive income	(327,184)	[1]	(57,621)	[1]
Investment income	(69,807)	[1]	(58,660)	[1]
Total expenses	(25,234)	[2]	(28,825)	[3]
Interest Expense, Net	(4,174)	[4]	(2,826)	[4]
Other income (expense), net	0		0
Other income of consolidated funds	2,626,029	[5]	2,419,579	[5]
Income taxes	(10,157)		(7,767)
Net income attributable to non-controlling redeemable interests in consolidated funds	(2,063,965)		(2,124,772)
Net income attributable to OCGH non-controlling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	(262,017)		(134,890)
Net income attributable to Oaktree Capital Group, LLC	(278,184)		(155,024)
Corporate investments, at equity	(1,022,196)	[8]	(1,053,070)	[8]
Total assets	42,416,711	[9]	43,425,604
Ocgh Units Prior to Initial Public Offering in April 2012 [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Expenses incurred by Non-Operating Group	$ 210

[1] The adjustment represents the elimination of amounts attributable to the consolidated funds.

[2] The expense adjustment consists of: (a) equity-based compensation charges of $5,800 related to unit grants made before the Company’s initial public offering, (b) consolidated fund expenses of $19,224 and (c) expenses incurred by the Intermediate Holding Companies of $210.

[3] The expense adjustment consists of: (a) equity-based compensation charges of $12,189 related to unit grants made before the Company’s initial public offering, (b) consolidated fund expenses of $16,458 and (c) expenses incurred by the Intermediate Holding Companies of $178.

[4] The interest expense adjustment represents the inclusion of interest expense attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds and the exclusion of segment interest income.

[5] The adjustment to other income of consolidated funds primarily represents the inclusion of interest, dividend and other investment income attributable to non-controlling interests of the consolidated funds.

[6] Because adjusted net income is a pre-tax measure, this adjustment eliminates the effect of income tax expense.

[7] Because adjusted net income is calculated at the Operating Group level, this adjustment adds back the effect of items applicable to OCG, its Intermediate Holding Companies or the OCGH non-controlling interest.

[8] The adjustment to corporate investments is to remove from segment assets the consolidated funds that are treated as equity method investments for segment reporting purposes.

[9] The total assets adjustment represents the inclusion of investments and other assets of the consolidated funds, net of segment assets eliminated in consolidation, which are primarily corporate investments in funds and incentive income receivable.