SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	$ 89,305	$ 97,786
Total investment costs and expenses	52,998	57,653
Total other income (loss)	(209,882)	(69,164)
Total other expenses	24,064	17,168
Income tax expense (benefit)	60	347
Net income (loss)	(197,699)	(46,546)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(15,535)	(6,071)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	(182,164)	(40,475)
Total assets	7,089,643		$ 7,788,395
Reportable Segments | Credit
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	77,395	94,958
Total investment costs and expenses	50,984	55,967
Total other income (loss)	(173,946)	(65,992)
Total other expenses	23,864	16,403
Income tax expense (benefit)	23	48
Net income (loss)	(171,422)	(43,452)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(9,711)	(5,858)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	(161,711)	(37,594)
Total assets	6,663,815		7,303,305
Reportable Segments | Natural Resources
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	2,641	2,828
Total investment costs and expenses	1,614	1,340
Total other income (loss)	(27,242)	(7,753)
Total other expenses	130	510
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Net income (loss)	(26,345)	(6,775)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,824)	(213)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	(20,521)	(6,562)
Total assets	208,161		230,815
Reportable Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	9,269	0
Total investment costs and expenses	400	346
Total other income (loss)	(8,694)	4,581
Total other expenses	70	155
Income tax expense (benefit)	37	299
Net income (loss)	68	3,781
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	68	3,781
Total assets	217,667		254,275
Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	0	0
Total investment costs and expenses	0	0
Total other income (loss)	0	0
Total other expenses	0	100
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Net income (loss)	0	(100)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	0	(100)
Total assets	0		0
Noncontrolling interests
Segment Reporting Information
Net income (loss)	(15,535)	$ (6,071)
Total assets	63,000		82,900
Noncontrolling interests | Reportable Segments | Credit
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	34,500		50,300
Noncontrolling interests | Reportable Segments | Natural Resources
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	$ 28,500		$ 32,600