Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

EQUITY AND EARNINGS PER SHARE - Shares Issued in Public Offering (Details)

v2.4.1.9
EQUITY AND EARNINGS PER SHARE - Shares Issued in Public Offering (Details) (USD $)
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 1 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2013
May 31, 2012
Apr. 30, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Aug. 31, 2014
Nov. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Feb. 28, 2013
Jul. 31, 2012
Date of issuance 2013-01 2012-05 2012-04                
Number of shares issued 9,583,333us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues 3,833,333us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues 3,162,500us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues                
Share price $ 56.10us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare $ 40.26us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare $ 37.32us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare                
Proceeds from issuance of common stock $ 526,200us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock $ 152,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock $ 115,200us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock $ 198,702us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock $ 1,264,769us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock $ 435,821us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock          
Manager [Member]                      
Options granted 958,333us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		383,333us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		316,250us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		      765,416us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		[1] 965,849us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		670,833us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		383,333us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		421,667us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember
Strike Price $ 56.10us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		$ 40.26us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		$ 37.32us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		      $ 26.34us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		[1] $ 31.50us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		$ 29.82us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		$ 62.88us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		$ 40.20us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember
Grant date value 18,000nct_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		7,600nct_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		5,600nct_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		      1,700nct_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		[1],[2] 6,000nct_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		3,800nct_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		8,400nct_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember 		8,300nct_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGrantDateFairValue
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= us-gaap_ManagementMember
Principals of Fortress [Member]                      
Number of shares issued 35,650us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		          83,333us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		75,159us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		125,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		31,833us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		75,000us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember
Share price $ 56.10us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		          $ 26.34us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		$ 31.50us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		$ 29.82us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		$ 62.88us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember 		$ 40.20us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_RelatedPartyTransactionsByRelatedPartyAxis
= nct_PrincipalsManagerMember
Underwriter [Member]                      
Date of issuance             2014-08 2013-11 2013-06 2013-02 2012-07
Number of shares issued             7,654,166us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		9,658,492us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		6,708,333us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		3,833,333us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		4,216,667us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember
Share price             $ 25.92us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		$ 31.26us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		$ 29.52us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		$ 62.04us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		$ 39.78us-gaap_SharesIssuedPricePerShare
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember
Proceeds from issuance of common stock             $ 197,900us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		$ 301,400us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		$ 197,600us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		$ 237,400us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember 		$ 167,400us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
/ us-gaap_SubsidiarySaleOfStockAxis
= nct_UnderwriterMember
[1] In connection with these offerings, Newcastle granted options to the Manager for the purpose of compensating the Manager for its role in raising capital for Newcastle.
[2] The assumptions used in valuing the options were: a 2.7% risk-free rate, 8.6% dividend yield, 23.4% volatility and a 10 year term.