INCOME/LOSS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Numerator:
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ 67,060	$ (125,065)
Dividend on Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	(1,400)	(2,799)
Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	(3,230)	(5,171)
Return on settlement of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	(3,377)	0
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	(3,913)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - Basic	55,140	(133,035)
Less: Change in fair value and gain on exercise of dilutive Series B warrants	(4,287)	0
Add: Interest expense associated with Starboard Notes, net of tax	1,518	0
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	3,913	0
Reallocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	(3,076)	0
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - Diluted	$ 53,208	$ (133,035)
Denominator:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic	75,296,025	42,460,504
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	92,411,818	42,460,504
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	92,411,818	42,460,504
Basic net income (loss) per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.73	$ (3.13)
Diluted net (loss) income per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.58	$ (3.13)
Anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the computation of diluted net income/loss per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	2,098,747	102,558,720
Employee stock options and restricted stock units
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	163,738	0
Series B warrants
Potentially dilutive common shares:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	16,952,055	0
Equity-based incentive awards
Anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the computation of diluted net income/loss per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	2,098,747	2,558,720
Series B warrants
Anti-dilutive potential common shares excluded from the computation of diluted net income/loss per share:
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)	0	100,000,000