Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 172,911	$ 286,901	$ 62,420
Allocable to non-controlling interest in Consolidated Funds:
Net cash used in operating activities	(1,863,095)	(625,655)	(527,986)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0	0	(64,437)
Purchase of furniture, equipment and leasehold improvements, net	(33,160)	(11,913)	(10,676)
Net cash used in investing activities	(33,160)	(11,913)	(75,113)
Allocable to non-controlling interest in Consolidated Funds:
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,654,958	880,764	581,537
Non-cash increase in assets and liabilities:
Issuance of AOG Units to non-controlling interest holders in connection with acquisitions	0	0	25,468
Ares Management L.P
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity compensation expense	69,711	39,065	32,244
Depreciation and amortization	32,809	37,455	55,275
Debt extinguishment expenses	0	0	(11,641)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments	(67,034)	(28,251)	(17,009)
Contingent consideration	(20,156)	(17,674)	(21,064)
Other non-cash amounts	(1,731)	0	10
Investments purchased	(257,295)	(120,413)	(150,231)
Proceeds from sale of investments	154,278	145,439	59,979
Cash flows due to changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net performance fees receivable	(90,444)	(28,306)	20,611
Due to/from affiliates	(2,483)	(26,000)	8,017
Other assets	(28,674)	(162)	32,232
Accrued compensation and benefits	(105,109)	9,181	(6,028)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	14,559	5,328	(37,194)
Deferred taxes	(8,112)	(28,463)	1,427
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt issuance, net of offering costs	0	0	316,449
Proceeds from credit facility	455,000	147,000	185,000
Proceeds from term notes	100,459	26,036	35,250
Repayments of credit facility	(245,000)	(257,000)	(75,000)
Repayments of term notes	0	0	(328,250)
Contributions	4,213	0	0
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred equity, net of issuance costs	0	298,761	0
Distributions	(261,656)	(200,663)	(217,760)
Preferred equity distributions	(21,700)	(12,176)	0
Redemption of redeemable interest and put option liability	0	(40,000)	0
Taxes paid in net settlement of vested common units	(14,308)	0	0
Stock option exercise	1,036	0	0
Tax from share-based payment	81	0	0
Other financing activities	(1,394)	(701)	85
Allocable to non-controlling interest in Consolidated Funds:
Effect of exchange rate changes	17,365	(21,818)	(5,813)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(223,932)	221,378	(27,375)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	342,861	121,483	148,858
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	118,929	342,861	121,483
Supplemental information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	17,222	15,390	15,792
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	18,034	26,402	13,587
Consolidated Funds
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments	(100,124)	2,057	24,616
Investments purchased	(4,058,936)	(2,263,891)	(1,643,079)
Allocable to non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds:
Receipt of non-cash interest income and dividends from investments	(453)	(7,720)	(8,288)
Amortization on debt and investments	(4,017)	(4,566)	(1,197)
Proceeds from sale or pay down of investments	2,303,315	1,498,398	1,049,765
Allocable to non-controlling interest in Consolidated Funds:
Change in cash and cash equivalents held at Consolidated Funds	(101,224)	(295,769)	1,154,889
Cash acquired/relinquished with consolidation/deconsolidation of Consolidated Funds	198,297	0	(870,390)
Change in other assets and receivables held at Consolidated Funds	(48,837)	3,872	(1,444)
Change in other liabilities and payables held at Consolidated Funds	85,654	167,864	(285,188)
Allocable to non-controlling interest in Consolidated Funds:
Contributions from non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds	190,154	132,932	88,567
Distributions to non-controlling interests in Consolidated Funds	(61,866)	(118,471)	(85,746)
Borrowings under loan obligations by Consolidated Funds	2,949,949	1,621,514	763,811
Repayments under loan obligations by Consolidated Funds	(1,440,010)	(716,468)	(100,869)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	455,280
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	556,500	455,280
Supplemental information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	76,889	53,704	43,894
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	$ 145	$ 378	$ 1,057