FAIR VALUE (Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets, at fair value
Partnership interest	$ 38,097	$ 35,998
Consolidated Funds
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	6,483,593	5,115,375
Equity securities	232,866	235,135
Partnership interest	251,608	232,332
Total investments, at fair value	6,968,067	5,582,842
Total derivative assets, at fair value		1,366
Total assets, at fair value	6,969,020	5,584,208
Liabilities, at fair value
Loan obligations of CLOs	(6,333,239)	(4,963,194)
Total liabilities, at fair value	(6,333,962)	(4,963,656)
Consolidated Funds \| Asset swaps - other
Assets, at fair value
Total derivative assets, at fair value	953	1,366
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivative liabilities	(723)	(462)
Consolidated Funds \| Collateralized loan obligations
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	26,231	10,000
Consolidated Funds \| Bonds
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	96,306	89,192
Consolidated Funds \| Loans
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	6,361,056	5,016,183
Consolidated Funds \| Level I
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	0	0
Equity securities	48,283	72,558
Partnership interest	0	0
Total investments, at fair value	48,283	72,558
Total derivative assets, at fair value		0
Total assets, at fair value	48,283	72,558
Liabilities, at fair value
Loan obligations of CLOs	0	0
Total liabilities, at fair value	0	0
Consolidated Funds \| Level I \| Asset swaps - other
Assets, at fair value
Total derivative assets, at fair value	0	0
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Consolidated Funds \| Level I \| Collateralized loan obligations
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	0	0
Consolidated Funds \| Level I \| Bonds
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	0	0
Consolidated Funds \| Level I \| Loans
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	0	0
Consolidated Funds \| Level II
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	6,001,218	4,847,486
Equity securities	0	0
Partnership interest	0	0
Total investments, at fair value	6,001,218	4,847,486
Total derivative assets, at fair value		0
Total assets, at fair value	6,001,218	4,847,486
Liabilities, at fair value
Loan obligations of CLOs	(6,333,239)	(4,963,194)
Total liabilities, at fair value	(6,333,239)	(4,963,194)
Consolidated Funds \| Level II \| Asset swaps - other
Assets, at fair value
Total derivative assets, at fair value	0	0
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivative liabilities	0	0
Consolidated Funds \| Level II \| Collateralized loan obligations
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	26,231	10,000
Consolidated Funds \| Level II \| Bonds
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	88,672	82,151
Consolidated Funds \| Level II \| Loans
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	5,886,315	4,755,335
Consolidated Funds \| Level III
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	482,375	267,889
Equity securities	184,583	162,577
Partnership interest	251,608	232,332
Total investments, at fair value	918,566	662,798
Total derivative assets, at fair value		1,366
Total assets, at fair value	919,519	664,164
Liabilities, at fair value
Loan obligations of CLOs	0	0
Total liabilities, at fair value	(723)	(462)
Consolidated Funds \| Level III \| Asset swaps - other
Assets, at fair value
Total derivative assets, at fair value	953	1,366
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivative liabilities	(723)	(462)
Consolidated Funds \| Level III \| Collateralized loan obligations
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	0	0
Consolidated Funds \| Level III \| Bonds
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	7,634	7,041
Consolidated Funds \| Level III \| Loans
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	474,741	260,848
Ares Management L.P
Assets, at fair value
Equity securities	1,379	1,636
Partnership interest	85,316	80,767
Total investments, at fair value	108,820	277,561
Total assets, at fair value	109,623	278,059
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivatives—foreign exchange contracts		(2,639)
Total liabilities, at fair value	(2,252)	(2,639)
Ares Management L.P \| Foreign exchange contracts
Assets, at fair value
Total derivative assets, at fair value	803	498
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivative liabilities	(2,252)
Ares Management L.P \| Collateralized loan obligations
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	22,125	195,158
Ares Management L.P \| Level I
Assets, at fair value
Equity securities	353	520
Partnership interest	0	0
Total investments, at fair value	353	520
Total assets, at fair value	353	520
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivatives—foreign exchange contracts		0
Total liabilities, at fair value	0	0
Ares Management L.P \| Level I \| Foreign exchange contracts
Assets, at fair value
Total derivative assets, at fair value	0	0
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivative liabilities	0
Ares Management L.P \| Level I \| Collateralized loan obligations
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	0	0
Ares Management L.P \| Level II
Assets, at fair value
Equity securities	1,026	1,116
Partnership interest	0	0
Total investments, at fair value	1,026	1,116
Total assets, at fair value	1,829	1,614
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivatives—foreign exchange contracts		(2,639)
Total liabilities, at fair value	(2,252)	(2,639)
Ares Management L.P \| Level II \| Foreign exchange contracts
Assets, at fair value
Total derivative assets, at fair value	803	498
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivative liabilities	(2,252)
Ares Management L.P \| Level II \| Collateralized loan obligations
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	0	0
Ares Management L.P \| Level III
Assets, at fair value
Equity securities	0	0
Partnership interest	47,219	44,769
Total investments, at fair value	69,344	239,927
Total assets, at fair value	69,344	239,927
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivatives—foreign exchange contracts		0
Total liabilities, at fair value	0	0
Ares Management L.P \| Level III \| Foreign exchange contracts
Assets, at fair value
Total derivative assets, at fair value	0	0
Liabilities, at fair value
Derivative liabilities	0
Ares Management L.P \| Level III \| Collateralized loan obligations
Assets, at fair value
Fixed income securities	22,125	195,158
Ares Management L.P \| Investments Measured at NAV
Assets, at fair value
Partnership interest	38,097	35,998
Total investments, at fair value	38,097	35,998
Total assets, at fair value	$ 38,097	$ 35,998

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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