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Share-Based Compensation and Employee Ownership Plans Narrative (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2015
Equity Plans      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Shares available for issuance under compensation plan, in shares 1,300,000    
Stock-compensation expense recognized in connection with compensation plan $ 6.4 $ 4.2  
Tax benefit of stock-compensation expense recognized in connection with compensation plan $ 3.1 $ 0.1  
Equity Plans | Employee Stock Option      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock options, initial term 7 years    
Equity Plans | Employee Stock Option | Minimum      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 2 years    
Equity Plans | Employee Stock Option | Maximum      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 5 years    
Equity Plans | Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Unrecognized compensation expense $ 79.4    
Vested, shares 2,851,670    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number 25,960,326 [1]   21,480,364
Equity Plans | Restricted Stock | Minimum      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 2 years    
Equity Plans | Restricted Stock | Maximum      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 5 years    
Equity Plans | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | Non-employee Director      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Granted, shares 0    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number 497,570    
Equity Plans | Stock Appreciation Rights (SARs)      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Unrecognized compensation expense $ 0.1   $ 0.1
SAR's, initial term 5 years    
Vested, shares 0    
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number 400,000   400,000
Deferred Cash Award | Cowen Group, Inc. 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Stock compensation award, vesting period 4 years    
Deferred cash awards, unrecognized compensation expense $ 49.2    
Deferred Cash Award | Cowen Group, Inc. 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan | Minimum      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Deferred cash award, interest rate 0.70%    
Deferred Cash Award | Cowen Group, Inc. 2010 Equity and Incentive Plan | Maximum      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Deferred cash award, interest rate 0.75%    
[1] Performance linked restricted stock units of 1,925,750 were awarded to employees of the Company in December 2013 and January 2014. An additional 2,800,000 performance linked restricted stock units were awarded in March 2016. Of the awards granted, 326,250 have been forfeited through March 31, 2016. The remaining awards, included in the outstanding balance as of March 31, 2016, will vest between March 2019 and December 2020 and will be earned only to the extent that the Company attains specified market goals relating to its volume-weighted average share price and total shareholder return in relation to certain benchmark indices and performance goals relating to aggregate net income and average return on shareholder equity. The actual number of RSUs ultimately earned could vary from zero, if performance goals are not met, to as much as 150% 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.