Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($)	Total	Redeemable Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Deficit	Treasury Stock	Total GWG Holdings Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 281,058,000	$ 215,973,000	$ 33,000	$ 249,662,000	$ (184,610,000)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018		245,883	33,018,161
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(56,348,000)				(56,348,000)
Issuance of common stock	419,000			419,000
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			58,009
Repurchase of common stock	(361,000)			(361,000)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)			(42,750)
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock	(6,155,000)	$ (6,155,000)
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock (in shares)		(6,155)
Preferred stock dividends	(12,806,000)			(12,806,000)
Equity-based compensation	246,000			246,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	206,053,000	$ 209,818,000	$ 33,000	237,160,000	(240,958,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		239,728	33,033,420
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2019	233,534,000	$ 212,738,000	$ 33,000	241,318,000	(220,555,000)
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2019		242,648	33,033,420
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(20,403,000)				(20,403,000)
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock	(2,920,000)	$ (2,920,000)
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock (in shares)		(2,920)
Preferred stock dividends	(4,232,000)			(4,232,000)
Equity-based compensation	74,000			74,000
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	206,053,000	$ 209,818,000	$ 33,000	237,160,000	(240,958,000)
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2019		239,728	33,033,420
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	600,827,000	$ 201,891,000	$ 33,000	233,106,000	(76,501,000)	$ (24,550,000)	$ 333,979,000	$ 266,848,000
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019		231,800	30,533,793
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(130,231,000)				(124,434,000)		(124,434,000)	(5,797,000)
Net loss	(147,540,000)
Issuance of common stock	534,000			534,000			534,000
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			60,871
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock	(34,778,000)	$ (34,778,000)					(34,778,000)
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock (in shares)		(34,778)
Preferred stock dividends	(11,235,000)			(11,235,000)			(11,235,000)
LiquidTrust promissory note conversion	(70,565,000)			(44,274,000)			(44,274,000)	(26,291,000)
Equity-based compensation	96,485,000			140,000			140,000	96,345,000
Forfeiture of vested equity-based compensation	(36,267,000)							(36,267,000)
Accrual for employee payroll taxes due on restricted equity units	(1,554,000)							(1,554,000)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest for change in ownership of Common Units				698,000			698,000	(698,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(1,195,000)							(1,195,000)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	412,021,000	$ 167,113,000	$ 33,000	178,969,000	(200,935,000)	(24,550,000)	120,630,000	291,391,000
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020		197,022	30,594,664
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019	1,269,654,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
Net loss	(17,309,000)
Tax distribution to noncontrolling interest	(5,592,000)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	1,246,753,000
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2020	540,772,000	$ 177,402,000	$ 33,000	225,537,000	(136,355,000)	(24,550,000)	242,067,000	298,705,000
Beginning balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2020		207,311	30,537,481
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(65,639,000)				(64,580,000)		(64,580,000)	(1,059,000)
Net loss	(77,325,000)
Issuance of common stock	524,000			524,000			524,000
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			57,183
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock	(10,289,000)	$ (10,289,000)					(10,289,000)
Redemption of redeemable preferred stock (in shares)		(10,289)
Preferred stock dividends	(3,569,000)			(3,569,000)			(3,569,000)
LiquidTrust promissory note conversion	(70,565,000)			(44,274,000)			(44,274,000)	(26,291,000)
Equity-based compensation	23,275,000			53,000			53,000	23,222,000
Accrual for employee payroll taxes due on restricted equity units	(1,554,000)							(1,554,000)
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest for change in ownership of Common Units				698,000			698,000	(698,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest	(934,000)							(934,000)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	412,021,000	$ 167,113,000	$ 33,000	$ 178,969,000	$ (200,935,000)	$ (24,550,000)	$ 120,630,000	$ 291,391,000
Ending balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2020		197,022	30,594,664
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2020	1,264,031,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
Net loss	(11,686,000)
Tax distribution to noncontrolling interest	(5,592,000)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 1,246,753,000