SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	$ 57,622	$ 69,162	$ 104,755	$ 158,467
Total investment costs and expenses	43,622	58,053	81,901	111,051
Total other income (loss)	32,924	24,946	174,425	(184,936)
Total other expenses	14,463	9,192	24,850	33,256
Income tax expense (benefit)	144	(187)	597	(127)
Net income (loss)	32,317	27,050	171,832	(170,649)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(259)	(1,281)	1,716	(16,816)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	32,576	28,331	170,116	(153,833)
Assets	6,276,361		6,276,361		$ 5,851,057
Noncontrolling Interests
Segment Reporting Information
Net income (loss)			1,716	(16,816)
Assets	70,700		70,700		71,600
Reportable Segments | Credit
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	49,406	65,905	92,828	143,300
Total investment costs and expenses	40,735	55,665	76,888	106,649
Total other income (loss)	29,578	18,756	181,965	(155,190)
Total other expenses	13,532	8,986	23,401	32,850
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	(27)	6	(4)
Net income (loss)	24,717	20,037	174,498	(151,385)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,841	(1,948)	5,616	(11,659)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	22,876	21,985	168,882	(139,726)
Assets	5,694,159		5,694,159		5,422,560
Reportable Segments | Credit | Noncontrolling Interests
Segment Reporting Information
Assets	48,200		48,200		43,400
Reportable Segments | Natural Resources
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	4,256	3,257	7,966	5,898
Total investment costs and expenses	2,278	1,894	4,203	3,508
Total other income (loss)	(7,844)	8,634	(23,427)	(18,608)
Total other expenses	484	127	740	257
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(6,350)	9,870	(20,404)	(16,475)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,100)	667	(3,900)	(5,157)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	(4,250)	9,203	(16,504)	(11,318)
Assets	187,841		187,841		219,516
Reportable Segments | Natural Resources | Noncontrolling Interests
Segment Reporting Information
Assets	22,500		22,500		28,200
Reportable Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	3,960	0	3,961	9,269
Total investment costs and expenses	609	494	810	894
Total other income (loss)	11,190	(2,444)	15,887	(11,138)
Total other expenses	447	79	689	149
Income tax expense (benefit)	144	(160)	591	(123)
Net income (loss)	13,950	(2,857)	17,758	(2,789)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	13,950	(2,857)	17,758	(2,789)
Assets	394,361		394,361		208,981
Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	0	0	0	0
Total investment costs and expenses	0	0	0	0
Total other income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Total other expenses	0	0	20	0
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	0	0	(20)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	0	$ 0	(20)	$ 0
Assets	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0