Business Combination - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands			3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Consideration transferred									$ 79,000
Additional common units issued					666,667
Decrease to loans receivable			$ 26,100
Equity-based payment awards			3,612			$ (169)	$ 73,060	$ 665
Ben LP
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Common units held prior to acquisition (in shares)		41,505,279			41,505,279				41,505,279
Ownership percentage prior to acquisition		90.20%			90.20%				90.20%
Consideration transferred					$ 79,000
Additional common units issued					666,667
Ownership percentage after acquisition		95.50%			95.50%				95.50%
Carrying value of investment prior to acquisition		$ 368,600			$ 368,600				$ 368,600
Fair value of investment prior to acquisition	$ 622,503	$ 622,503							622,500
Remeasurement gain					$ 253,900
Remeasurement loss									4,200
Remeasurement gain, net									$ 249,700
Decrease to loans receivable			$ 11,500	$ 14,600			$ 26,100
Indefinite-lived intangible assets				3,100
Finite-lived intangible assets				$ 300
Common units not owned by GWG Holdings (in shares)		1,974,677			1,974,677				1,974,677
Enterprise valuation (in usd per share)		$ 15			$ 15				$ 15
Equity-based payment awards									$ 151,800
Common units owned by GWG Holdings (in shares)		41,505,279			41,505,279				41,505,279