UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024
Revenues:
Total revenues	$ 285,232	$ 122,312
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues - intellectual property operations	200,752	92,658
Sales and marketing expenses - industrial and manufacturing operations	12,954	7,217
General and administrative expenses	65,117	55,363
Total costs and expenses	278,823	155,238
Operating income (loss)	6,409	(32,926)
Equity securities investments:
Change in fair value of equity securities	1,092	(31,412)
(Loss) gain on sale of equity securities	(25)	28,861
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)	1,067	(2,551)
Non-recurring legacy legal expense	0	(14,857)
Service provider settlement, net	15,750	0
Gain on derivatives - energy operations	7,449	2,016
Gain (loss) on foreign currency exchange	414	(370)
Interest expense	(8,989)	(6,464)
Interest income	11,260	17,682
Other expense, net	(2,049)	(677)
Total other income (expense)	24,902	(5,221)
Income (loss) before income taxes	31,311	(38,147)
Income tax (expense) benefit	(6,841)	3,449
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	24,470	(34,698)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	(2,788)	(1,359)
Net income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	21,682	(36,057)
Income (loss) per share:
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - Basic	$ 21,682	$ (36,057)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic	96,293,764	99,213,835
Basic net income (loss) per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.23	$ (0.36)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders - Diluted	$ 21,682	$ (36,057)
Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted	97,158,219	99,213,835
Diluted net income (loss) per common share (in usd per share)	$ 0.22	$ (0.36)
Foreign currency translation	$ 1,850	$ (1,180)
Other comprehensive income	1,850	(1,180)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	26,320	(35,878)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,788)	(1,359)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Acacia Research Corporation	23,532	(37,237)
Intellectual property operations
Revenues:
Total revenues	78,355	19,525
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues - intellectual property operations	50,013	24,551
Industrial operations
Revenues:
Total revenues	28,267	30,421
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues - intellectual property operations	14,475	14,912
Energy operations
Revenues:
Total revenues	63,818	49,183
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues - intellectual property operations	49,315	36,291
Manufacturing Operations
Revenues:
Total revenues	114,792	23,183
Costs and expenses:
Cost of revenues - intellectual property operations	$ 86,949	$ 16,904