Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Feb. 25, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	Colony Capital, Inc.
Trading Symbol	CLNY
Entity Central Index Key	0001679688
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2018
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 3,000
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Class A Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		482,619,359
Class B Common Stock
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		733,931