Investments and Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended																					6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012 Convertible Debt [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Convertible Debt [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Fair Value, Measurements, Recurring [Member]		Jun. 30, 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]		Jun. 30, 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]		Jun. 30, 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]		Jun. 30, 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	$ 0		$ 0		$ 84,485	$ 120,410	$ 132,622
Income from embedded derivatives	(6,003)	9,437	(27,060)	8,862
Nonrecurring nonfinancial assets subject to fair value measurements	0	0	0	0
Assets:
Money market funds								147,866		194,259		147,866		194,259		0		0		0		0
Certificates of deposit								2,233		2,206		0		0		2,233		2,206		0		0
Bonds								5,212		4,573		5,212		4,573		0		0		0		0
Investment securities available for sale								68,141		76,486		66,738		70,884		1,403		5,602		0		0
Warrants								1,108	[1]	1,962	[2]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1]	0	[2]	1,108	[1]	1,962	[2]
Total								224,560		279,486		219,816		269,716		3,636		7,808		1,108		1,962
Investment Owned, Balance, Shares																										1,000,000
Investment Owned, at Cost																								1,031	1,890
Change in Fair Value, Gain (Loss)																								(854)
Liabilities:
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt								$ 120,410		$ 133,500		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 120,410		$ 133,500

[1] Warrants include 1,000,000 of LTS Warrants received on November 4, 2011 which were carried at $1,031 as of June 30, 2012 and are included in "Other assets". The company recognized a loss of $854 for the six months ended June 30, 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".