VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES BORROWINGS (Schedule of Debt) (Details) RSO (RSO [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	$ 1,502,089		$ 1,319,810
Unamortized debt issuance costs	14,462		16,216
Principal outstanding	1,516,551		1,336,026
Weighted-average borrowing rate	1.83%		1.87%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	10 years 11 months	13 years 1 month
Value of Collateral	1,759,819		1,508,603
RREF CDO 2006-1 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	100,184		94,004
Unamortized debt issuance costs	129		205
Principal outstanding	100,313		94,209
Weighted-average borrowing rate	1.86%		1.87%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	32 years 5 months	32 years 7 months
Value of Collateral	169,809		169,115
RREF CDO 2007-1 Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	147,866		177,837
Unamortized debt issuance costs	509		719
Principal outstanding	148,375		178,556
Weighted-average borrowing rate	0.91%		0.84%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	32 years 6 months	32 years 9 months
Value of Collateral	297,703		318,933
CRE Notes 2013 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	256,866		256,571
Unamortized debt issuance costs	3,974		4,269
Principal outstanding	260,840		260,840
Weighted-average borrowing rate	2.02%		2.03%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	14 years 8 months	15 years 0 months
Value of Collateral	303,410		305,586
Apidos CDO I Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	73,815		87,131
Unamortized debt issuance costs	0		0
Principal outstanding	73,815		87,131
Weighted-average borrowing rate	1.66%		1.68%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	3 years 4 months	3 years 7 months
Value of Collateral	88,532		103,736
Apidos CDO III Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	112,511		133,209
Unamortized debt issuance costs	40		117
Principal outstanding	112,551		133,326
Weighted-average borrowing rate	0.94%		0.88%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	6 years 6 months	6 years 8 months
Value of Collateral	124,677		145,930
Apidos Cinco CDO Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	319,797		321,147
Unamortized debt issuance costs	703		853
Principal outstanding	320,500		322,000
Weighted-average borrowing rate	0.74%		0.74%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	6 years 1 month	6 years 5 months
Value of Collateral	345,029		342,796
Whitney CLO I Securitized Borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	133		440
Unamortized debt issuance costs	0		0
Principal outstanding	133		440
Weighted-average borrowing rate	0.00%		0.00%
Value of Collateral	157		885
Moselle CLO SA Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	167,181
Unamortized debt issuance costs	0
Principal outstanding	167,181
Weighted-average borrowing rate	0.95%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	5 years 9 months
Value of Collateral	202,247
Moselle CLO SA Securitized Borrowings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	5,116
Unamortized debt issuance costs	0
Principal outstanding	5,116
Weighted-average borrowing rate	0.00%
Value of Collateral	0
Unsecured Junior Subordinated Debentures [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	51,054		51,005
Unamortized debt issuance costs	494		543
Principal outstanding	51,548		51,548
Weighted-average borrowing rate	4.18%		4.19%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	22 years 7 months	22 years 10 months
Value of Collateral	0		0
Convertible Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	107,130		106,535
Unamortized debt issuance costs	7,870		8,465
Principal outstanding	115,000		115,000
Weighted-average borrowing rate	6.00%		6.00%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	4 years 8 months	4 years 11 months
Value of Collateral	0		0
Repurchase Agreements Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	99,726		29,703
Unamortized debt issuance costs	743		1,033
Principal outstanding	100,469		30,736
Weighted-average borrowing rate	2.63%		2.67%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	18 days	21 days
Value of Collateral	153,895		48,186
CMBS - Term Repurchase Facilities [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	36,819		47,601
Unamortized debt issuance costs	0		12
Principal outstanding	36,819		47,613
Weighted-average borrowing rate	1.37%		1.38%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	18 days	21 days
Value of Collateral	44,386		56,949
Residential Mortgage [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	14,686		14,627
Unamortized debt issuance costs	0		0
Principal outstanding	14,686		14,627
Weighted-average borrowing rate	4.23%		4.24%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	147 days	216 days
Value of Collateral	16,728		16,487
CMBS - Short-Term Repurchase Agreements [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Outstanding Borrowings	9,205
Unamortized debt issuance costs	0
Principal outstanding	9,205
Weighted-average borrowing rate	1.40%
Weighted Average Remaining Maturity	24 days
Value of Collateral	$ 13,246