Note 1 - Description and Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]	1. Description and Basis of Presentation Description Steel Excel Inc. (“Steel Excel” or the “Company”) is primarily focused on capital redeployment and identification of new business operations in which it can utilize its existing working capital and maximize the use of the Company’s net tax operating losses (“NOLs”) in the future. The identification of new business operations includes, but is not limited to, the oilfield services, sports, training, education, entertainment, and lifestyle businesses. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired two sports-related businesses and one oilfield services business. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, it acquired a second oilfield services business, and on April 30, 2012 entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a third oilfield services business. It currently operates in these two reportable segments, but may add others in the future depending upon acquisition opportunities to further redeploy its working capital. Basis of Presentation In the opinion of management, the accompanying Condensed and Consolidated Financial Statements (“Condensed Financial Statements”) of Steel Excel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have been prepared on a consistent basis with the December 31, 2011 audited financial statements. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, therefore, omit certain information and footnote disclosures necessary to present the statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and are considered unaudited and condensed. The December 31, 2011 Condensed Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which was filed with the SEC on March 13, 2012. The Company’s Condensed Financial Statements include the accounts of Steel Excel and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. Reverse/Forward Stock Split At the close of business on October 3, 2011, the Company effected a reverse split (the “Reverse Split”) immediately followed by a forward split (the “Forward Split” and together with the Reverse Split, the “Reverse/Forward Split”). At the Company’s 2011 annual stockholders meeting, its stockholders approved a proposal authorizing the Board of Directors (the “Board”) to effect the reverse/forward stock split at exchange ratios determined by the Board within certain specified ranges. The exchange ratio for the Reverse Split was 1-for-500 and the exchange ratio for the Forward Split was 50-for-1. As a result of the Reverse Split, stockholders holding less than 500 shares (the “Cashed Out Stockholders”) were entitled to a cash payment for all of their shares. All remaining stockholders following the Forward Split (the “Remaining Stockholders”) were also entitled to a cash payment for any fractional shares that they would otherwise have received. The cash payment that each Cashed Out Stockholder or Remaining Stockholder was entitled to receive was based upon such stockholder’s pro rata share of the total net proceeds received in the sale of the aggregated fractional shares by the Company’s transfer agent at prevailing prices on the open market. All shares outstanding and per share information for the previous financial periods being reported have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse/Forward Split.

Note 1 - Description and Basis of Presentation

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2012

Business Description and Basis of Presentation [Text Block]

1. Description and Basis of Presentation

Description

Steel Excel Inc. (“Steel Excel” or the “Company”) is primarily focused on capital redeployment and identification of new business operations in which it can utilize its existing working capital and maximize the use of the Company’s net tax operating losses (“NOLs”) in the future. The identification of new business operations includes, but is not limited to, the oilfield services, sports, training, education, entertainment, and lifestyle businesses. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, the Company acquired two sports-related businesses and one oilfield services business. During the three-month period ended March 31, 2012, it acquired a second oilfield services business, and on April 30, 2012 entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a third oilfield services business. It currently operates in these two reportable segments, but may add others in the future depending upon acquisition opportunities to further redeploy its working capital.

Basis of Presentation

In the opinion of management, the accompanying Condensed and Consolidated Financial Statements (“Condensed Financial Statements”) of Steel Excel and its wholly-owned subsidiaries have been prepared on a consistent basis with the December 31, 2011 audited financial statements. The Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, therefore, omit certain information and footnote disclosures necessary to present the statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America and are considered unaudited and condensed. The December 31, 2011 Condensed Balance Sheet was derived from audited financial statements. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, which was filed with the SEC on March 13, 2012.

The Company’s Condensed Financial Statements include the accounts of Steel Excel and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts have been eliminated in consolidation.

Reverse/Forward Stock Split

At the close of business on October 3, 2011, the Company effected a reverse split (the “Reverse Split”) immediately followed by a forward split (the “Forward Split” and together with the Reverse Split, the “Reverse/Forward Split”). At the Company’s 2011 annual stockholders meeting, its stockholders approved a proposal authorizing the Board of Directors (the “Board”) to effect the reverse/forward stock split at exchange ratios determined by the Board within certain specified ranges.

The exchange ratio for the Reverse Split was 1-for-500 and the exchange ratio for the Forward Split was 50-for-1. As a result of the Reverse Split, stockholders holding less than 500 shares (the “Cashed Out Stockholders”) were entitled to a cash payment for all of their shares. All remaining stockholders following the Forward Split (the “Remaining Stockholders”) were also entitled to a cash payment for any fractional shares that they would otherwise have received. The cash payment that each Cashed Out Stockholder or Remaining Stockholder was entitled to receive was based upon such stockholder’s pro rata share of the total net proceeds received in the sale of the aggregated fractional shares by the Company’s transfer agent at prevailing prices on the open market.

All shares outstanding and per share information for the previous financial periods being reported have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse/Forward Split.