INCOME/LOSS PER SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Numerator:
Net (loss) income attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	$ (36,057)	$ 67,060
Dividend on Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	0	(1,400)
Accretion of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	0	(3,230)
Return on settlement of Series A redeemable convertible preferred stock	0	(3,377)
Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	(3,913)
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders - Basic	(36,057)	55,140
Less: Change in fair value and gain on exercise of dilutive Series B warrants	0	(4,287)
Add: Interest expense associated with Starboard Notes, net of tax	0	1,518
Add: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities	0	3,913
Reallocation of undistributed earnings to participating securities	0	(3,076)
Net (loss) income attributable to common stockholders - Diluted	$ (36,057)	$ 53,208
Denominator:
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic	99,213,835	75,296,025
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	99,213,835	92,411,818
Weighted average number of shares outstanding, diluted	99,213,835	92,411,818
Basic net income (loss) per common share (in usd per share)	$ (0.36)	$ 0.73
Diluted net (loss) income per common share (in usd per share)	$ (0.36)	$ 0.58
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)	3,883,847	2,098,747
Employee stock options and restricted stock units
Denominator:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	163,738
Series B warrants
Denominator:
Potentially dilutive common shares (in shares)	0	16,952,055
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)	3,883,847	2,098,747
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	0