FINANCING RECEIVABLES (Allowance for Credit Losses) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Allowance for losses at beginning of period	$ 10,935	$ 2,024	$ 4,795
Provision for credit losses	17,246	10,661	5,209
Charge-offs	(124)	(2,099)	(8,067)
Recoveries	38	349	87
Deconsolidation of LEAF	(482)
Allowance for losses at end of period	27,613	10,935	2,024
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	27,613	10,505
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0	430
Gross financing receivables related to the balance in the allowance for credit losses [Abstract]
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	62,043	62,622
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0	192,442
Balance, end of year	62,043	255,064
Receivables from Managed Entities [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Allowance for losses at beginning of period	10,490	1,075	0
Provision for credit losses	17,090	9,415	1,852
Charge-offs	0	0	(777)
Recoveries	0	0	0
Deconsolidation of LEAF	0
Allowance for losses at end of period	27,580	10,490	1,075
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	27,580	10,490
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0	0
Gross financing receivables related to the balance in the allowance for credit losses [Abstract]
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	61,998	62,607
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0	0
Balance, end of year	61,998	62,607
Investment in Loans [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Allowance for losses at beginning of period			0
Provision for credit losses			1
Charge-offs			(1)
Recoveries			0
Allowance for losses at end of period			0
Leases and Loans [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Allowance for losses at beginning of period	430	770	570
Provision for credit losses	138	1,137	2,860
Charge-offs	(124)	(1,764)	(2,721)
Recoveries	38	287	61
Deconsolidation of LEAF	(482)
Allowance for losses at end of period	0	430	770
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0	430
Gross financing receivables related to the balance in the allowance for credit losses [Abstract]
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment		0
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment		192,442
Balance, end of year		192,442
Future Payment Card Receivables [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Allowance for losses at beginning of period	0	130	2,640
Provision for credit losses	0	94	447
Charge-offs	0	(286)	(2,983)
Recoveries	0	62	26
Deconsolidation of LEAF	0
Allowance for losses at end of period	0	0	130
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0	0
Rent Receivables [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Allowance for losses at beginning of period	15	0
Provision for credit losses	18	15
Charge-offs	0	0
Recoveries	0	0
Deconsolidation of LEAF	0
Allowance for losses at end of period	33	15
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	33	15
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0	0
Gross financing receivables related to the balance in the allowance for credit losses [Abstract]
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	45	15
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	0	0
Balance, end of year	45	15
Investment in Real Estate Loan [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Allowance for losses at beginning of period	0	49	1,585
Provision for credit losses	0	0	49
Charge-offs	0	(49)	(1,585)
Recoveries	0	0	0
Deconsolidation of LEAF	0
Allowance for losses at end of period	0	0	49
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	$ 0	$ 0