Schedule II - STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010 Harbinger Group Inc [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Harbinger Group Inc [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 Harbinger Group Inc [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 110,668	$ 7,379	$ (198,242)	$ (63,670)	[1]	$ 89,556	$ 42,059
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation of properties	43,984	48,841	54,841	19	[1]	133	91
Stock-based compensation	31,214	30,505	16,710	34	[1]	1,886	116
Amortization of debt issuance costs	12,778	14,968	9,030			2,856	1,770
Amortization of debt discount	1,293	5,386	18,302			571	613
Deferred income taxes	(153,470)	(16,119)	52,612	881	[1]	3,582	376
Equity in net (income) losses of subsidiaries				55,772	[1]	(354,628)	(75,014)
Dividends from subsidiaries						69,470	20,000
Increase (decrease) in fair value of equity conversion feature of preferred stock		(27,910)				156,600	(27,910)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	11,338	(14,770)	1,435	(561)	[1]	(4,640)	62
Accounts payable and accrued and other current liabilities	(26,587)	(23,875)	88,594	989	[1]	27,042	15,697
Other operating	181,155	(18,064)	(74,019)	701	[1]	(1,652)	1,797
Net cash provided by operating activities	618,699	153,105	51,237	(5,835)	[1]	(9,224)	(20,343)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from investments sold, matured or repaid	6,206,696	1,699,919	30,094	30,094	[1]	108,887	101,006
Cost of investments acquired	(5,972,715)	(1,808,999)	(3,989)	(3,989)	[1]	(67,983)	(121,930)
Capital contributions to consolidated subsidiaries						(36,330)	(727,162)
Return of capital from subsidiary						88,000
(Advances to) repayments from consolidated subsidiaries						49,339	(49,339)
Capital expenditures	(53,518)	(38,250)	(40,374)	(58)	[1]	(26)	(345)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(185,636)	531,962	49,322	26,047	[1]	141,887	(797,770)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Dividends paid on preferred stock						(31,670)
Proceeds from senior secured notes	517,000	498,459					498,459
Proceeds from preferred stock issuance, net of issuance costs		385,973					385,973
Debt issuance costs	(11,231)	(28,823)	(55,024)				(16,207)
Other financing activities	(953)	2,134	491				416
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(98,779)	194,552	66,262			(31,670)	868,641
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	333,352	880,528	159,031	20,212	[1]	100,993	50,528
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,137,359	256,831	97,800	64,050	[1]	134,790	84,262	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 1,470,711	$ 1,137,359	$ 256,831	$ 84,262	[1]	$ 235,783	$ 134,790

[1] Date from which the registrant's results of operations are included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements, as discussed further in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.