Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 98,336	$ 88,048
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net realized and unrealized (loss) gain on derivatives and foreign exchange	8,852	(9,149)
Net loss on restructuring and extinguishment of debt	20,269	445
Write-off of debt issuance costs	4,080	386
Lower of cost or estimated fair value adjustment on corporate loans held for sale	4,749	(10,401)
Provision for loan losses	11,068	46,498
Impairment charges	5,862	733
Share-based compensation	980	614
Net unrealized gain on residential mortgage-backed securities, carried at estimated fair value	(6,444)	(3,047)
Net realized and unrealized gain on investments	(98,894)	(53,920)
Depreciation and net amortization	(5,232)	(16,146)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Interest receivable	1,921	6,583
Other assets	(12,881)	(8,444)
Related party payable	10,708	5,749
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	84	1,103
Net cash provided by operating activities	39,678	44,716
Cash flows from investing activities:
Principal payments from corporate loans	500,167	621,928
Principal payments from securities available-for-sale and other securities, at estimated fair value	54,819	18,791
Principal payments from residential mortgage-backed securities, at estimated fair value	2,523	1,552
Proceeds from sales of corporate loans	100,807	167,981
Proceeds from sales of securities available-for-sale and other securities, at estimated fair value	11,977	93,641
Proceeds from equity investments	2,007	3,216
Purchases of corporate loans	(434,408)	(291,143)
Purchases of securities available-for-sale and other securities, at estimated fair value	(20,990)	(13,085)
Purchases of equity and other investments	(32,345)	(89,946)
Net change in proceeds, purchases, and settlements of derivatives	(2,019)	(6,243)
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	174,292	(424,330)
Net cash provided by investing activities	356,830	82,362
Cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of collateralized loan obligation secured notes	0	31,876
Retirement of collateralized loan obligation secured notes	(167,633)	(93,888)
Proceeds from credit facilities	0	28,500
Repayment of credit facilities	(61,700)
Repayment of convertible senior notes	0	(23,495)
Proceeds from senior notes	0	111,418
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock	361,622
Distributions on common shares	(53,243)	(46,384)
Repurchase and cancellation of common shares	0	(96)
Other capitalized costs	0	(317)
Net cash provided by financing activities	79,046	7,614
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	475,554	134,692
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	237,606	392,154
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	713,160	526,846
Supplemental cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	43,494	49,640
Net cash paid for income taxes	4,462	45
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Issuance of restricted common shares	3,282	2,446
Loans transferred from held for investment to held for sale	21,388	46,077
Loans transferred from held for sale to held for investment	0	7,504
Preferred share distributions declared, not yet paid	6,738
Conversion of convertible senior notes to common shares	186,254
Affiliates
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accrued interest payable	(1,055)	541
Nonaffiliates
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accrued interest payable	$ (2,725)	$ (4,877)