CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
Preferred Stock [Member]
Common Stock [Member]
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Retained Earnings (Deficit) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Total
Balance at Beginning at Dec. 31, 2013 $ 3,086 $ (6,611) $ (638) $ 12 $ (4,151)
Balance at Beginning (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013 1,500,107          
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]              
Issuance of common stock on June 5, 2014 for cash, net of issuance costs of $215   $ 1 51,232 51,233
Issuance of common stock on June 5, 2014 for cash, net of issuance costs of $215 (in shares)   10,289,300          
Foregiveness of long-term debt on June 5, 2014 from the former Great American Group Members   18,759 18,759
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of B. Riley & Co., Inc.   $ 1 26,350 26,351
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of B. Riley & Co., Inc. (in shares)   4,182,637          
B. Riley Financial, Inc. common stock owned by B. Riley & Co., Inc. - cancelled upon acquisition   (29) (29)
B. Riley Financial, Inc. common stock owned by B. Riley & Co., Inc. - cancelled upon acquisition (in shares)   (3,437)          
Deferred tax asset from principal payment on debt to the former Great American Group Members   11,200 11,200
Dividends paid   (479) (479)
Net income   5,801 (6) (5,795)
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (10) (10)
Balance at End at Dec. 31, 2014 $ 2 110,598 (12,891) (648) 18 97,079
Balance at End (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014 15,968,607          
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]              
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of MK Capital, LLC - contingent equity consideration on February 2, 2016   4,657 4,657
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of MK Capital, LLC - contingent equity consideration on February 2, 2016 (in shares)   333,333          
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for employer taxes   (499) (499)
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for employer taxes (in shares)   146,179          
Share based payments   2,043 2,043
Dividends paid   (5,219) (5,219)
Net income   11,805 1,772 13,577
Distributions to non-controlling interests   (1,908) (1,908)
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (410) (410)
Balance at End at Dec. 31, 2015 $ 2 116,799 (6,305) (1,058) (118) 109,320
Balance at End (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015 16,448,119          
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]              
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of MK Capital, LLC - contingent equity consideration on February 2, 2016  
Issuance of common stock for acquisition of MK Capital, LLC - contingent equity consideration on February 2, 2016 (in shares)   166,667          
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for employer taxes   (1,156) (1,156)
Vesting of restricted stock, net of shares withheld for employer taxes (in shares)   104,576          
Offering of common stock, net of offering expenses   22,759 22,759
Offering of common stock, net of offering expenses (in shares)   2,420,980          
Share based payments   2,768 2,768
Dividends paid   (5,334) (5,334)
Net income   21,526 1,163 32,726
Foreign currency translation adjustment   (654) (654)
Balance at End at Dec. 31, 2016 $ 2 $ 141,170 $ 9,887 $ (1,712) $ 1,045 $ 150,392
Balance at End (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016 19,140,342