Schedule I - Financial Information (Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
REVENUES
Interest income on loans									$ 45,700	$ 74,365	$ 134,555
Other revenues									98,588	106,321	107,934
Total revenues	$ 444,143	$ 297,330	$ 187,473	$ 66,771	$ 331,576	$ 219,393	$ 412,433	$ 310,857	995,717	1,274,259	1,487,153
EXPENSES
Interest expense									255,781	273,606	303,103
General and administrative									619,772	574,091	577,506
Salaries and benefits									520,357	576,817	578,627
Depreciation and amortization									59,426	69,128	72,721
Corporate allocations									0	0	0
Other expenses, net									10,530	10,557	10,803
Total expenses	417,229	465,795	565,706	343,422	548,252	364,124	427,955	371,425	1,792,152	1,711,756	1,625,029
OTHER GAINS (LOSSES)
Net gains on extinguishments									14,662	4,660	0
Other net fair value losses									(4,234)	7,398	19,280
Other									(3,811)	21,013	(744)
Total other gains	(74)	10,282	(1,351)	(2,240)	8,485	13,173	523	10,890	6,617	33,071	18,536
Loss before income taxes	26,840	(158,183)	(379,584)	(278,891)	(208,191)	(131,558)	(14,999)	(49,678)	(789,818)	(404,426)	(119,340)
Income tax benefit	49,069	(56,357)	(147,183)	(106,189)	(91,056)	(54,630)	23,120	(18,670)	(260,660)	(141,236)	(9,012)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs									(529,158)	(263,190)	(110,328)
Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs									0	0	0
Net loss	$ (22,229)	$ (101,826)	$ (232,401)	$ (172,702)	$ (117,135)	$ (76,928)	$ (38,119)	$ (31,008)	(529,158)	(263,190)	(110,328)
Total comprehensive loss									(529,038)	(262,772)	(110,431)
Reportable Legal Entities [Member] | Parent Company [Member]
REVENUES
Interest income on loans									1,082	1,165	1,007
Other revenues									(1,914)	3,563	1,456
Total revenues									(832)	4,728	2,463
EXPENSES
Interest expense									144,170	147,752	147,633
General and administrative									67,583	35,654	32,198
Salaries and benefits									60,119	28,510	19,311
Depreciation and amortization									783	129	120
Corporate allocations									(119,953)	(54,452)	(46,764)
Other expenses, net									621	(488)	1,598
Total expenses									153,323	157,105	154,096
OTHER GAINS (LOSSES)
Net gains on extinguishments									14,662	4,660	0
Other net fair value losses									0	0	(54)
Other									(979)	12,076	0
Total other gains									13,683	16,736	(54)
Loss before income taxes									(140,472)	(135,641)	(151,687)
Income tax benefit									(32,534)	(53,546)	(49,405)
Income (loss) before equity in earnings (losses) of consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs									(107,938)	(82,095)	(102,282)
Equity in losses of consolidated subsidiaries and VIEs									(421,220)	(181,095)	(8,046)
Net loss									(529,158)	(263,190)	(110,328)
Total comprehensive loss									$ (529,038)	$ (262,772)	$ (110,431)