CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 52,027,000	$ 87,145,000	$ 21,627,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	2,140,000
Impairment charges		2,280,000
Provision for credit losses	4,265,000	20,148,000	11,305,000
Unrealized loss (gain) on trading securities	1,054,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(5,389,000)	(4,083,000)	(9,507,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	4,647,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans			(685,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	(214,000)	(74,000)
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	(6,293,000)
Gain on sale of assets	(1,734,000)
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries		(54,542,000)	(8,749,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt			2,190,000
Deferred income tax provision	25,000
Equity-based compensation issued	1,257,000
Trading securities purchases and sales, net	10,287,000
Loss from discontinued operations	2,000	44,000	2,222,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	2,840,000
Net cash used in operating activities	(90,878,000)	(7,981,000)	17,065,000
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(2,730,000)
Payments received on real estate loans and real estate	2,049,000
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	(1,545,000)
Principal payments received on leases and loans	17,000
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO	1,348,597,000
Increase in restricted cash of consolidated VIE - RSO	22,248,000
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	(30,446,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	473,038,000	115,220,000	(485,988,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	2,001,000
Principal payments on borrowings	(2,486,000)
Net (repayments) borrowings of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO	(420,107,000)
Dividends paid	(1,988,000)
Dividends paid on common stock by consolidated VIE - RSO	(91,255,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	1,252,000
Repurchase of common stock	(4,607,000)
Other	67,000
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(373,835,000)	(106,866,000)	468,839,000
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Operating activities	(371,000)	(1,277,000)	(1,643,000)
Net cash used in discontinued operations	(371,000)	(1,277,000)	(1,643,000)
Increase (decrease) in cash	7,954,000	(904,000)	(1,727,000)
Cash, beginning of year	11,899,000	12,803,000	14,530,000
Cash, end of year	19,853,000	11,899,000	12,803,000
RAI [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	2,140,000	2,338,000	17,044,000
Impairment charges	0	2,280,000	0
Provision for credit losses	4,265,000	20,148,000	12,104,000
Unrealized loss (gain) on trading securities	1,054,000	(1,272,000)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	(5,389,000)	(4,083,000)	(9,507,000)
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	4,647,000	3,311,000	5,022,000
Gain on sale of leases and loans	0	0	(685,000)
Other-than-temporary impairment on investments	(214,000)	(74,000)	0
Gain on sale of investment securities, net	(6,293,000)	(1,221,000)	(321,000)
Gain on sale of assets	(1,734,000)	(915,000)	(196,000)
Gain on sale and deconsolidation of subsidiaries	0	(54,542,000)	(8,749,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	2,190,000
Deferred income tax provision	25,000	11,836,000	(3,211,000)
Equity-based compensation issued	1,257,000	993,000	2,242,000
Trading securities purchases and sales, net	10,287,000	(2,876,000)	0
Loss from discontinued operations	2,000	44,000	2,222,000
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	2,840,000	(4,983,000)	(6,159,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures	(2,730,000)	(196,000)	(1,233,000)
Payments received on real estate loans and real estate	2,049,000	888,000	18,037,000
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	(1,545,000)	(2,493,000)	(2,215,000)
Purchase of commercial finance assets	0	0	(113,570,000)
Principal payments received on leases and loans	17,000	15,000	38,087,000
Purchase of loans and investments	(3,213,000)	(2,597,000)	(600,000)
Cash divested on deconsolidation of LEAF	0	0	(2,284,000)
Net proceeds from sale of Apidos and cash divested on deconsolidation	0	17,860,000	0
Proceeds from sale of loans and investments	0	55,000	1,040,000
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Increase in borrowings	2,001,000	0	233,888,000
Principal payments on borrowings	(2,486,000)	(5,715,000)	(177,431,000)
Dividends paid	(1,988,000)	(2,334,000)	(2,264,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	1,252,000	2,131,000	1,914,000
Repurchase of common stock	(4,607,000)	(2,463,000)	(1,180,000)
Other	67,000	(203,000)	(7,342,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Cash, beginning of year	11,899,000
Cash, end of year	19,853,000	11,899,000
RSO [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Change in cash attributable to operations of consolidated VIE - RSO	(156,220,000)	(66,258,000)	(16,558,000)
Net cash used in operating activities	(156,220,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchase of loans and investments	(861,939,000)	(769,762,000)	(1,072,132,000)
Principal payments and proceeds from sales received by consolidated VIE - RSO	1,348,597,000	822,476,000	663,663,000
Increase in restricted cash of consolidated VIE - RSO	22,248,000	50,756,000	31,014,000
Other investing activity of consolidated VIE - RSO	(30,446,000)	(1,782,000)	(45,795,000)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net (repayments) borrowings of debt by consolidated VIE - RSO	(420,107,000)	(192,783,000)	365,143,000
Dividends paid on common stock by consolidated VIE - RSO	(91,255,000)	(71,876,000)	(67,415,000)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock	189,991,000	171,056,000	129,911,000
Other	$ (46,703,000)	$ (4,679,000)	$ (6,385,000)