REDEEMABLE INTERESTS AND EQUITY COMPENSATION PUT OPTION LIABILITY (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2016	Nov. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Redeemable interests
Beginning balance			$ 23,505	$ 23,988
Distributions			(345,222)	(330,649)	$ (302,508)
Reallocation of Partners' capital for change in ownership interest			(15,656)	(881)	(82)
Ending Balance				23,505	23,988
Consolidated Funds
Redeemable interests
Beginning balance			$ 0	23,505
Net income				456	338
Distributions				(661)	(998)
Currency translation adjustment				(47)	(36)
Equity compensation				84	132
Issuance cost				0	0
Allocation of contributions in excess of the carrying value of the net assets (dilution)				0	0
Reallocation of Partners' capital for change in ownership interest				0	82
Deferred tax liabilities arising from allocation of contribution and Partners' capital				0	(1)
Redemption of redeemable interest in consolidated subsidiary				(20,000)	0
Forfeiture of equity in connection with redemption of ownership interest				(3,337)	0
Ending Balance				0	23,505
Ares Operating Group
Redeemable interests
Beginning balance				23,505	23,988
Net income				0	0
Distributions				0	0
Currency translation adjustment				0	0
Equity compensation				0	0
Tandem award compensation adjustment				$ 0	0
Ending Balance					$ 23,505
Indicus
Redeemable interests
Equity interest awarded to former owners of acquired entity (as a percent)		1.00%
Percent of equity interest deemed consideration In acquisition		50.00%
Percentage of interest accounted for as equity compensation		50.00%
Equity interest put option strike price		$ 40,000
Put option	$ 40,000	20,000
Put option liability	20,000	(20,000)
Non-controlling interest	20,000
Reclassifications to permanent equity	$ 3,300
Indicus | Ares Operating Group
Redeemable interests
Put option		$ 20,000