FAIR VALUE (Changes in Fair Value of Level III Measurements) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Consolidated Funds
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	$ 942,584	$ 700,059	$ 717,030	$ 970,837
Deconsolidation of fund				(184,918)
Additions			392,037
Transfer in	96,671	122,554	146,839	85,179
Transfer out	(230,326)	(103,148)	(350,078)	(199,498)
Purchases	118,708	97,721	321,065	303,785
Sales/settlements	(74,330)	(122,643)	(306,928)	(288,580)
Amortized discounts/premiums	5	90	1,068	21
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	14,869	1,973	(52,852)	9,780
Balance, end of period	868,181	696,606	868,181	696,606
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	12,562	2,930	(55,970)	6,678
Consolidated Funds | Equity Securities
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	42,259	131,732	85,988	150,752
Deconsolidation of fund				(10,325)
Additions			(635)
Transfer in	0	0	0	0
Transfer out	0	0	0	0
Purchases	150	710	551	11,595
Sales/settlements	(25)	(13,597)	(714)	(18,734)
Amortized discounts/premiums	0	0	0	0
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	828	(4,004)	(41,978)	(18,447)
Balance, end of period	43,212	114,841	43,212	114,841
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	878	(3,582)	(41,930)	(18,018)
Consolidated Funds | Fixed Income Securities
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	586,287	274,412	339,136	547,958
Deconsolidation of fund				(174,593)
Additions			392,672
Transfer in	96,671	122,554	146,839	85,179
Transfer out	(230,326)	(103,148)	(350,078)	(199,498)
Purchases	118,558	95,011	256,514	282,190
Sales/settlements	(73,010)	(102,198)	(249,027)	(260,422)
Amortized discounts/premiums	(135)	107	777	17
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	15,836	(1,578)	(22,952)	4,329
Balance, end of period	513,881	285,160	513,881	285,160
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	13,690	(765)	(25,701)	1,017
Consolidated Funds | Partnership interests
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	312,636	293,857	296,012	271,447
Deconsolidation of fund				0
Additions			0
Transfer in	0	0	0	0
Transfer out	0	0	0	0
Purchases	0	2,000	64,000	10,000
Sales/settlements	(2,000)	(5,000)	(58,000)	(7,000)
Amortized discounts/premiums	0	0	0	0
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	(1,402)	8,300	7,222	24,710
Balance, end of period	309,234	299,157	309,234	299,157
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	(1,402)	8,300	7,222	24,710
Consolidated Funds | Derivatives, Net
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	1,402	58	(4,106)	680
Deconsolidation of fund				0
Additions			0
Transfer in	0	0	0	0
Transfer out	0	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales/settlements	705	(1,848)	813	(2,424)
Amortized discounts/premiums	140	(17)	291	4
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	(393)	(745)	4,856	(812)
Balance, end of period	1,854	(2,552)	1,854	(2,552)
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	(604)	(1,023)	4,439	(1,031)
Ares Management L.P
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	84,634	111,640	119,079	106,413
Deconsolidation of fund				10,021
Additions	72,967		76,653
Purchases	5,983	25,010	7,285	29,157
Sales/settlements	(899)	(5,243)	(34,017)	(16,413)
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	1,429	(1,305)	(4,886)	924
Balance, end of period	164,114	130,102	164,114	130,102
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	1,429	(1,357)	1,848	1,121
Ares Management L.P | Equity Securities
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	14,704	12,397	14,704	10,397
Deconsolidation of fund				0
Additions	72,967		72,967
Purchases	0	0	0	2,000
Sales/settlements	0	0	0	0
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	(1,746)	0	(1,746)	0
Balance, end of period	85,925	12,397	85,925	12,397
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	(1,746)	0	(1,746)	0
Ares Management L.P | Fixed Income Securities
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	67,355	64,051	69,183	60,824
Deconsolidation of fund				10,021
Additions	0		3,686
Purchases	5,983	25,010	7,285	27,157
Sales/settlements	(899)	(5,243)	(1,587)	(16,413)
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	3,175	(1,305)	(2,953)	924
Balance, end of period	75,614	82,513	75,614	82,513
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	3,175	(1,357)	(1,917)	1,121
Ares Management L.P | Partnership interests
Changes in the fair value of the Level III investments
Balance, beginning of period	2,575	35,192	35,192	35,192
Deconsolidation of fund				0
Additions	0		0
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales/settlements	0	0	(32,430)	0
Realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation), net	0	0	(187)	0
Balance, end of period	2,575	35,192	2,575	35,192
Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation included in earnings related to financial assets still held at the reporting date	$ 0	$ 0	$ 5,511	$ 0