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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans Narrative (Details) (Equity Plans, USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Shares authorized under compensation plan, in shares 17,725,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized    
Shares available for issuance under compensation plan, in shares 1,200,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant    
Stock-compensation expense recognized in connection with compensation plan $ 18.3us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 17.9us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 19.9us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Tax benefit of stock-compensation expense recognized in connection with compensation plan 6.0us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 9.7us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 11.3us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense
Employee Stock Option
      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock options, initial term 7 years    
Employee Stock Option | Minimum
      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 2 years    
Employee Stock Option | Maximum
      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 5 years    
Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Unrecognized compensation expense 43.4us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		    
Vested, shares 4,071,120us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		 4,463,990us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number 17,654,582us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		 [1] 13,551,544us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		 10,252,023us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)
      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Unrecognized compensation expense $ 0.2us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		 $ 0.3us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		  
SAR's, initial term 5 years    
Vested, shares 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		  
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number 400,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		 400,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember		 0us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_StockAppreciationRightsSARSMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
Restricted Stock | Minimum
      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 2 years    
Restricted Stock | Maximum
      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 5 years    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Non-employee Director
      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Vested, shares 216,834us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cown_NonEmployeeDirectorMember		    
Granted, shares 158,791us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNonOptionEquityInstrumentsGranted
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cown_NonEmployeeDirectorMember		    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number 424,479us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
/ us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis
= cown_NonEmployeeDirectorMember		    
[1] 1,925,750 were awarded to employees of the Company in December 2013 and January 2014. Of the awards granted, 281,250 have been forfeited during the year ended December 31, 2014. The remaining awards, included in the outstanding balance as of December 31, 2014, will vest on June 10, 2019 and will be earned only to the extent that the Company attains specified performance goals relating to its volume-weighted average share price and the aggregate net income for the years from 2014 to 2018. The actual number of RSUs ultimately earned could vary from zero, if performance goals are not met, to as much as 100% of the targeted award. Each RSU is equal to the one share of the Company’s Class A common stock. Compensation expense is recognized to the extent that it is probable that the Company will attain the performance goals.