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Investments of Operating Entities and Consolidated Funds - Securities Owned at Fair Value (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Concentration Risk, Percentage 0  
Securities owned, at fair value 792,206us-gaap_TradingSecurities 311,039us-gaap_TradingSecurities
Other investments 167,464us-gaap_OtherInvestments 99,483us-gaap_OtherInvestments
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value 207,875us-gaap_InvestmentSoldNotYetPurchasedAtFairValue 130,954us-gaap_InvestmentSoldNotYetPurchasedAtFairValue
US Government Securities    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Trading Securities, Debt 2,010us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesDebt
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		 [1] 9us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesDebt
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember		 [1]
Debt securities, interest rate   5.95%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
US Government Securities | Minimum    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Debt securities, interest rate 0.00%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		  
US Government Securities | Maximum    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Debt securities, interest rate 5.95%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_USGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		  
Convertible Bonds    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Trading Securities, Debt 900us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesDebt
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtSecuritiesMember		 [2] 5,958us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesDebt
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtSecuritiesMember		 [2]
Debt securities, interest rate 10.00%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtSecuritiesMember		  
Convertible Bonds | Minimum    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Debt securities, interest rate   5.00%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
Convertible Bonds | Maximum    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Debt securities, interest rate   10.00%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ConvertibleDebtSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
Common Stock    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Trading Securities, Equity 579,349us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember		 176,939us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Preferred Stock    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Trading Securities, Equity 15,070us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember		 324us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
Restricted Stock    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Trading Securities, Equity 18,127us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		 0us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Warrants and Rights    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Trading Securities, Equity 1,417us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= cown_WarrantsAndRightsMember		 5,912us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= cown_WarrantsAndRightsMember
Mutual Funds    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Trading Securities, Equity 15,776us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquityFundsMember		 525us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesEquity
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_EquityFundsMember
Corporate Bonds    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Trading Securities, Debt 159,557us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesDebt
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember		 [3] 121,372us-gaap_TradingSecuritiesDebt
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember		 [3]
Corporate Bonds | Minimum    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Debt securities, interest rate 5.63%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 3.38%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
Corporate Bonds | Maximum    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Debt securities, interest rate 11.54%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 11.75%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
Enterprise Master    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 5,896us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember		 6,841us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
Derivative, Fair Value, Net 64us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember		 (21)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
Enterprise Master | Currency Forwards    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Derivative, Fair Value, Net 64us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember		 (21)us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeNet
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_ForeignExchangeForwardMember
Enterprise Master | Bank debt    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 20us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtMember		 5us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_DebtMember
Enterprise Master | Common Stock    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 1,659us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember		 2,677us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Enterprise Master | Preferred Stock    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 576us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember		 973us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_PreferredStockMember
Enterprise Master | Private Equity    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 587us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= cown_PrivateEquityMember		 406us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= cown_PrivateEquityMember
Enterprise Master | Restricted Stock    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 124us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember		 124us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockMember
Enterprise Master | Rights    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 2,802us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_RightsMember		 2,528us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_RightsMember
Enterprise Master | Trade Claims    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 128us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= cown_TradeClaimsMember		 128us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_EnterpriseMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= cown_TradeClaimsMember
Merger Master    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 137,434us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember		 48,545us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
Merger Master | Common Stock    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 133,510us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember		 33,901us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CommonStockMember
Merger Master | Options    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 541us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember		 200us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_OptionMember
Merger Master | Corporate Bonds    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Securities owned, at fair value 3,383us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember		 [4] 14,444us-gaap_TradingSecurities
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember		 [4]
Merger Master | Corporate Bonds | Minimum    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Debt securities, interest rate 8.50%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember		 7.00%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MinimumMember
Merger Master | Corporate Bonds | Maximum    
Schedule of Trading Securities and Other Trading Assets [Line Items]    
Debt securities, interest rate 9.75%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember		 10.88%invest_InvestmentInterestRate
/ dei_LegalEntityAxis
= cown_MergerMasterMember
/ us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateBondSecuritiesMember
/ us-gaap_RangeAxis
= us-gaap_MaximumMember
[1] As of December 31, 2014, maturities ranged from May 2015 to April 2016 with interest rates ranged between 0% to 5.95%. As of December 31, 2013, the maturity was April 2016 with an interest rate of 5.95%.
[2] As of December 31, 2014, the maturity was February 2015 with an interest rate of 10.00%. As of December 31, 2013, maturities ranged from May 2014 to October 2014 and interest rates ranged between 5.00% to 10.00% .
[3] As of December 31, 2014, maturities ranged from February 2015 to February 2046 and interest rates ranged between 5.63% to 11.54%. As of December 31, 2013, maturities ranged from January 2014 to February 2046 and interest rates ranged between 3.38% to 11.75%.
[4] As of December 31, 2014, maturities ranged from February 2017 to June 2019 and interest rates ranged between 8.50% and 9.75%. As of December 31, 2013, maturities ranged from April 2016 to October 2020 and interest rates ranged between 7.00% and 10.88%.