INVESTMENTS (Fair Value Investments, excluding Equity Method Investments Held at Fair Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments
Fair Value	$ 38,097	$ 35,998
Ares Management L.P
Investments
Equity method investments	1,466,247	1,724,571
Fair Value	85,316	80,767
Total private investment partnership interests	108,820	277,561
Collateralized loan obligations	22,125	195,158
Equity securities	$ 1,379	$ 1,636
Percentage of total investments	1.50%	11.30%
Partnership interests \| Ares Management L.P
Investments
Total private investment partnership interests	$ 1,442,743	$ 1,527,777
Percentage of total investments	98.40%	88.60%
Common Stock \| Ares Management L.P
Investments
Equity securities	$ 1,379	$ 1,636
Percentage of total investments	0.10%	0.10%
Partnership interests \| Ares Management L.P
Investments
Equity method investments	$ 348,831	$ 340,354
Percentage of total investments	23.80%	19.70%
Equity method - carried interest \| Ares Management L.P
Investments
Equity method investments	$ 985,035	$ 1,077,236
Percentage of total investments	67.20%	62.50%
Equity method private investment partnership interests - other \| Ares Management L.P
Investments
Equity method investments	$ 70,780	$ 74,439
Percentage of total investments	4.80%	4.30%
Other private investment partnership Interests \| Ares Management L.P
Investments
Fair Value	$ 38,097	$ 35,748
Percentage of total investments	2.60%	2.10%

Collateralized Loan Obligations, Fair Value

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Fair value of investment other than investment in equity security, investment in debt security and equity method investment. Includes, but is not limited to, investment in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share. Example includes, but is not limited to, investment in hedge fund, venture capital fund, private equity fund, and real estate partnership or fund.

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Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method.

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Amount of investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI).

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Percent of net assets at close of period. For schedules of investments that are categorized, each category has a percent of net assets for the aggregated value of the Investments in the category.

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Fair value portion of investment securities, including, but not limited to, marketable securities, derivative financial instruments, and investments accounted for under the equity method.

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