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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units (Details) (Equity Plans, USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value      
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense $ 18.3us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 17.9us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense $ 19.9us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
     
Nonvested Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units      
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, shares 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
 
Granted, shares 9,674,496us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
7,939,924us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Vested, shares (4,071,120)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
(4,463,990)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Cancelled, shares 0cown_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsCanceledInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
0cown_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsCanceledInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Forfeited, shares (1,500,338)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
(176,413)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Balance outstanding, end of period, shares 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
 
Weighted-Average Grant Date Fair Value      
Balance outstanding, beginning of period, in dollars per share $ 3.37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 4.15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Granted, in dollars per share $ 3.89us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 2.63us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Vested, in dollars per share $ 3.27us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 3.86us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Cancelled, in dollars per share $ 0.00cown_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsCanceledInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 0cown_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsCanceledInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Forfeited, in dollars per share $ 3.07us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
$ 3.15us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Balance outstanding, end of period, in dollars per share $ 3.70us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
[1] $ 3.37us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
 
Unrecognized compensation expense $ 43.4us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognizedShareBasedAwardsOtherThanOptions
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= cown_RestrictedStockAndRestrictedStockUnitsRsusMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
   
Weighted-average recognition period for unrecognized compensation expense 1 year 9 months    
Performance Shares [Member]
     
Nonvested Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units      
Granted, shares 1,925,750us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
   
Forfeited, shares (281,250)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod
/ us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cown_EquityPlansMember
   
[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.