RSO FINANCING RECEIVABLES (Allowance for Loan Losses and Recorded Investments in Loans) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2013 Resource Capital Corp [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Resource Capital Corp [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Resource Capital Corp [Member] Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Resource Capital Corp [Member] Commercial Portfolio Segment [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Resource Capital Corp [Member] Bank Loans [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Resource Capital Corp [Member] Bank Loans [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Resource Capital Corp [Member] Loans Receivable - Related Party [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Resource Capital Corp [Member] Loans Receivable - Related Party [Member]
Activity in the allowance for credit losses of financing receivables [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 32,628		$ 15,572	$ 12,604	$ 17,691	$ 27,518	$ 7,986	$ 24,221	$ 9,705	$ 3,297	$ 0	$ 0
Provision (benefit) for loan loss					1,042	16,818	1,261	5,225	(219)	11,593	0	0
Charge-offs	(25)				(1,757)	(26,645)	(92)	(21,460)	(1,665)	(5,185)	0	0
Balance, end of period	32,960		15,572	12,604	16,976	17,691	9,155	7,986	7,821	9,705	0	0
Allowance for losses, ending balance:
Individually evaluated for impairment	32,906		15,538		5,918	5,378	3,311	2,142	2,607	3,236	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	54		34		11,058	12,313	5,844	5,844	5,214	6,469	0	0
Loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality					0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Loans, ending balance:
Ending balance, individually evaluated for impairment	62,835	63,178			192,018	190,068	180,262	177,055	3,896	4,689	7,860	8,324
Ending balance, collectively evaluated for impairment	112	112			1,559,508	1,677,870	469,221	489,996	1,090,287	1,187,874	0	0
Ending balance, loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality					$ 0	$ 751	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 751	$ 0	$ 0