| 
           SEGMENT REPORTING AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES (Details Narrative) (USD $) 
        In Thousands, unless otherwise specified  | 
        12 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Dec. 31, 2013 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2012 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2013
 
          CDO V
 
          VIE 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2013
 
          CDO VIII Repack
 
          VIE 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Restated 
         | 
      |||||||
| Aggregate Face Amount of debt eliminated upon consolidation | $ 133,900 | $ 71,100 | |||||||||
| Carrying Value of debt eliminated upon consolidation | 87,500 | 62,500 | |||||||||
| Decrease in gross assets in deconsolidation of CDO | 1,100,000 | 301,600 | |||||||||
| Decrease in gross liabilities in deconsolidation of CDO | 1,200,000 | 357,000 | |||||||||
| Gain on deconsolidation | 45,072 | ||||||||||
| Decrease in AOCI loss in deconsolidation of CDO | 25,500 | 10,300 | |||||||||
| Gain on sale of CDO assets | 224,300 | ||||||||||
| Debt Face Amount | 3,030,490 | 2,786,059 | 39,800 | 116,800 | |||||||
| Carrying Value of Newcastle's Investment | $ 2,002 | $ 2,002 | [1] | $ 104,308 | [1],[2] | ||||||
          
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| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The carrying value of the debt financing as of balance sheet date provided by CDO segment, which is eliminated upon consolidation. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The face amount of the debt financing as of balance sheet date provided by CDO segment, which is eliminated upon consolidation. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The decrease to the company's gross accumulated other comprehensive income/loss as a result of the deconsolidation of CDOs. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The impact to the company's gross assets as a result of the deconsolidation of CDOs. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The impact to the company's gross liabilities as a result of the deconsolidation of CDOs. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The net gain on sale of CDO assets recognized during the period as a result of the deconsolidation of CDOs. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The gain recognized during the period on the deconsolidation of CDOs. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The net carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets and liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position. No definition available. 
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