Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Revenues	$ 13,725,000	$ 36,633,000	$ 82,303,000	$ 61,944,000
Operating costs and expenses
Inventor royalties	1,181,000	0	24,166,000	4,939,000
Contingent legal fees	2,949,000	12,173,000	19,745,000	16,036,000
Other Cost of Operating Revenue	0	0	4,000,000	0
Litigation and licensing expenses - patents	1,231,000	4,073,000	6,106,000	14,593,000
Amortization of patents	4,952,000	5,625,000	15,560,000	16,711,000
General and administrative expenses(1)	6,089,000	12,715,000	16,566,000	26,365,000
Other expenses - business development	84,000	241,000	577,000	994,000
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)	0	2,248,000	29,210,000	2,248,000
Other Cost and Expense, Operating	2,202,000	0	2,202,000	0
Total operating costs and expenses	18,688,000	37,075,000	118,132,000	81,886,000
Operating loss	(4,963,000)	(442,000)	(35,829,000)	(19,942,000)
Gain on Conversion of Loan and Accrued Interest	0	0	0	2,671,000
Gain on exercise of warrant	0	0	0	4,616,000
Change in fair value of investment, net	(22,377,000)	158,979,000	(52,127,000)	146,281,000
Loss on Sale of Investments	(5,539,000)	0	(5,539,000)	0
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments	0	(116,000)	0	(130,000)
Interest income and other	321,000	164,000	796,000	1,423,000
Total other income (expense)	(27,595,000)	159,027,000	(56,870,000)	154,861,000
Income (loss) before provision for income taxes	(32,558,000)	158,585,000	(92,699,000)	134,919,000
Provision for income taxes	(306,000)	(216,000)	(782,000)	(2,935,000)
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(32,864,000)	158,369,000	(93,481,000)	131,984,000
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(331,000)	96,000	(179,000)	399,000
Net loss attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	(33,195,000)	158,465,000	(93,660,000)	132,383,000
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	(33,195,000)	158,326,000	(93,660,000)	132,142,000
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Diluted	$ (33,195,000)	$ 158,326,000	$ (93,660,000)	$ 132,143,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ (0.67)	$ 3.13	$ (1.87)	$ 2.62
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ (0.67)	$ 3.13	$ (1.87)	$ 2.61
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	49,557,748	50,554,234	50,080,234	50,462,990
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted	49,557,748	50,599,974	50,080,234	50,684,725
General and administrative expenses excluding share-based compensation	$ 6,099,000	$ 3,262,000	$ 16,394,000	$ 13,297,000
Non-cash stock compensation general and administrative	566,000	1,272,000	1,791,000	4,833,000
Non-cash stock compensation - profits interests	$ (576,000)	$ 8,181,000	$ (1,619,000)	$ 8,235,000