SEGMENT REPORTING (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	$ 69,162	$ 105,691	$ 158,467	$ 203,477
Total investment costs and expenses	58,053	62,450	111,051	120,103
Total other income (loss)	24,946	8,035	(184,936)	(61,129)
Total other expenses	9,192	12,269	33,256	29,437
Income tax expense (benefit)	(187)	729	(127)	1,076
Net income (loss)	27,050	38,278	(170,649)	(8,268)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,281)	(2,705)	(16,816)	(8,776)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	28,331	40,983	(153,833)	508
Total assets	6,831,215		6,831,215		$ 7,788,395
Noncontrolling interests
Segment Reporting Information
Net income (loss)			(16,816)	(8,776)
Total assets	64,300		64,300		82,900
Reportable Segments | Credit
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	65,905	90,520	143,300	185,478
Total investment costs and expenses	55,665	59,331	106,649	115,298
Total other income (loss)	18,756	(842)	(155,190)	(66,834)
Total other expenses	8,986	12,014	32,850	28,417
Income tax expense (benefit)	(27)	14	(4)	62
Net income (loss)	20,037	18,319	(151,385)	(25,133)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,948)	182	(11,659)	(5,676)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	21,985	18,137	(139,726)	(19,457)
Total assets	6,385,056		6,385,056		7,303,305
Reportable Segments | Credit | Noncontrolling interests
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	36,000		36,000		50,300
Reportable Segments | Natural Resources
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	3,257	6,351	5,898	9,179
Total investment costs and expenses	1,894	2,706	3,508	4,046
Total other income (loss)	8,634	(6,348)	(18,608)	(14,101)
Total other expenses	127	176	257	686
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	9,870	(2,879)	(16,475)	(9,654)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	667	(2,887)	(5,157)	(3,100)
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	9,203	8	(11,318)	(6,554)
Total assets	213,286		213,286		230,815
Reportable Segments | Natural Resources | Noncontrolling interests
Segment Reporting Information
Total assets	28,300		28,300		32,600
Reportable Segments | Other
Segment Reporting Information
Total revenues	0	8,820	9,269	8,820
Total investment costs and expenses	494	413	894	759
Total other income (loss)	(2,444)	15,225	(11,138)	19,806
Total other expenses	79	79	149	234
Income tax expense (benefit)	(160)	715	(123)	1,014
Net income (loss)	(2,857)	22,838	(2,789)	26,619
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	(2,857)	22,838	(2,789)	26,619
Total assets	232,873		232,873		254,275
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	0	100
Income tax expense (benefit)	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	0	0	0	(100)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to KKR Financial Holdings LLC and Subsidiaries	0	$ 0	0	$ (100)
Total assets	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0