EQUITY COMPENSATION (Adoption of ASU 2016-09 ) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Redeemable Interest in AOG Entities	$ 23,505	$ 23,988	$ 23,947
AOG
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Redeemable Interest in AOG Entities	$ 0	23,505
Partners' Capital | Ares Management L.P
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
December 31, 2015		251,537
As originally reported | AOG
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Redeemable Interest in AOG Entities		23,505
As originally reported | Partners' Capital | Ares Management L.P
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2015, Unadjusted		251,537
Adoption of ASU 2016-09 | Non-Controlling Interest in AOG Entities | AOG
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
December 31, 2015		397,883
Adoption of ASU 2016-09 | As originally reported | Non-Controlling Interest in AOG Entities | AOG
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2015, Unadjusted		397,883
Adjustments for New Accounting Principle | Adoption of ASU 2016-09 | AOG
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Retained earnings		(38)
Paid-in-capital - equity compensation		43
Distributions - dividend equivalent		(5)
Adjustments for New Accounting Principle | Adoption of ASU 2016-09 | Partners' Capital | Ares Management L.P
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Retained earnings		(3,357)
Paid-in-capital - equity compensation		3,767
Distributions - dividend equivalent		(410)
Adjustments for New Accounting Principle | Adoption of ASU 2016-09 | Non-Controlling Interest in AOG Entities | AOG
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items]
Retained earnings		(5,470)
Paid-in-capital - equity compensation		6,138
Distributions - dividend equivalent		$ (668)