Operating Segment Data - Segment Results (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment Reporting, Disclosure of Entity's Reportable Segments [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments									1
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 208,568	$ 189,185	$ 191,072	$ 183,903	$ 152,377	$ 172,668	$ 152,709	$ 148,072	$ 772,728	$ 625,826	$ 581,798
Total expense									(710,742)	(615,071)	(566,515)
Net income (loss) attributable to consolidated CLOs									0	0	10,457
Corporate expense									(32,847)	(30,551)	(29,070)
Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations	9,877	(1,598)	15,705	5,155	(13,192)	(1,138)	1,577	(7,043)	29,139	(19,796)	(3,330)
Less: provision (benefit) for income taxes	5,311	(649)	3,501	854	(4,431)	(611)	701	(1,568)	9,017	(5,909)	(12,562)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations					9,289	0	0	34,481	0	43,770	(3,998)
Net income (loss) before non-controlling interests					528	(527)	876	29,006	20,122	29,883	5,234
Less: net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests	419	508	458	376	363	91	50	5,446
Net income (loss) attributable to Common Stockholders	$ 4,147	$ (1,457)	$ 11,746	$ 3,925	$ 165	$ (618)	$ 826	$ 23,560	18,361	23,933	3,604
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)									83,868	28,782	47,607
Other investment income									59,888	38,062	42,275
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business									7,598	0	1,994
Management Fee Income									89,004	76,806	66,187
Other									5,038	5,827	5,706
Tiptree Insurance
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Total revenues									640,433	549,872	478,965
Total expense									(599,433)	(531,312)	(473,561)
Net income (loss) attributable to consolidated CLOs											0
Corporate expense									0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations									41,000	18,560	5,404
Other									4,566	2,554	3,552
Tiptree Capital
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Total revenues									132,295	75,954	102,833
Total expense									(111,309)	(83,759)	(92,954)
Net income (loss) attributable to consolidated CLOs											10,457
Corporate expense									0	0	0
Income (loss) before taxes from continuing operations									20,986	(7,805)	20,336
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)									76,973	40,446	64,110
Other investment income									45,985	25,541	26,261
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Business									7,598	0	1,994
Management Fee Income									1,267	6,694	8,314
Other									472	3,273	2,154
Noncontrolling interest
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Less: net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests									$ 1,761	$ 5,950	$ 1,630