EQUITY BASED COMPENSATION - Awards Rollforward (Details)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 $ / shares shares
KKR Holdings Principal Awards
Shares
Balance at the beginning of the period (in units) | shares	30,848,583
Granted (in units) | shares	450,000
Vested (in units) | shares	(4,524,590)
Forfeitures (in units) | shares	(680,000)
Balance at the end of the period (in units) | shares	26,093,993
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance at the beginning of the period (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 14.42
Granted (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	20.90
Vested (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	13.37
Forfeitures (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	11.99
Balance at the end of the period (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 14.78
Equity Incentive Plan Shares
Shares
Balance at the beginning of the period (in units) | shares	46,422,733
Granted (in units) | shares	1,849,305
Vested (in units) | shares	(10,242,975)
Forfeitures (in units) | shares	(2,027,024)
Balance at the end of the period (in units) | shares	36,002,039
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Balance at the beginning of the period (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 14.98
Granted (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	20.61
Vested (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	13.65
Forfeitures (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	14.12
Balance at the end of the period (in dollars per unit) | $ / shares	$ 15.70