Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																					3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Convertible Debt [Member]	Mar. 31, 2011 Convertible Debt [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1) [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member] Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 Warrant [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Warrant [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Nov. 04, 2011 Warrant [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	$ 106,191		$ 84,485	$ 154,555	$ 142,067
Income from embedded derivatives	(21,057)	(575)
Nonrecurring nonfinancial assets subject to fair value measurements	0	0
Assets:
Money market funds						162,649		194,259		162,649		194,259		0		0		0		0
Certificates of deposit						2,231		2,206		0		0		2,231		2,206		0		0
Bonds						4,308		4,573		4,308		4,573		0		0		0		0
Investment securities available for sale						65,242		76,486		60,577		70,884		4,665		5,602		0		0
Warrants						1,319	[1]	1,962	[2]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1]	0	[2]	1,319	[1]	1,962	[2]
Total						235,749		279,486		227,534		269,716		6,896		7,808		1,319		1,962
Investment Owned, Balance, Shares																								1,000,000
Investment Owned, at Cost																						1,248	1,890
Change in Fair Value, Gain (Loss)																						(642)
Liabilities:
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt						$ 154,555		$ 133,500		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 154,555		$ 133,500

[1] Warrants include 1,000,000 of LTS Warrants received on November 4, 2011 which were carried at $1,248 as of March 31, 2012 and are included in "Other assets". The company recognized a loss of $642 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 related to the change in fair value.

[2] Warrants include 1,000,000 of LTS Warrants received on November 4, 2011 which were carried at $1,890 as of December 31, 2011 and are included in "Other assets".