SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	$ 47,133	$ 89,305
Total investment costs and expenses	38,279	52,998
Total other income (loss)	141,501	(209,882)
Total other expenses	10,387	24,064
Income tax expense (benefit)	453	60
Net income (loss)	139,515	(197,699)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,975	(15,535)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	137,540	(182,164)
Assets	6,006,936		$ 5,851,057
Noncontrolling Interests
Segment Reporting Information
Net income (loss)	1,975	(15,535)
Assets	72,700		71,600
Reportable Segments | Credit
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	43,422	77,395
Total investment costs and expenses	36,153	50,984
Total other income (loss)	152,387	(173,946)
Total other expenses	9,869	23,864
Income tax expense (benefit)	6	23
Net income (loss)	149,781	(171,422)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,775	(9,711)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	146,006	(161,711)
Assets	5,604,492		5,422,560
Reportable Segments | Credit | Noncontrolling Interests
Segment Reporting Information
Assets	47,700		43,400
Reportable Segments | Natural Resources
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	3,710	2,641
Total investment costs and expenses	1,925	1,614
Total other income (loss)	(15,583)	(27,242)
Total other expenses	256	130
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Net income (loss)	(14,054)	(26,345)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,800)	(5,824)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	(12,254)	(20,521)
Assets	198,499		219,516
Reportable Segments | Natural Resources | Noncontrolling Interests
Segment Reporting Information
Assets	25,000		28,200
Reportable Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	1	9,269
Total investment costs and expenses	201	400
Total other income (loss)	4,697	(8,694)
Total other expenses	242	70
Income tax expense (benefit)	447	37
Net income (loss)	3,808	68
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	3,808	68
Assets	203,945		208,981
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	20	0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0
Net income (loss)	(20)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	(20)	$ 0
Assets	$ 0		$ 0