Related Party Transactions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified		12 Months Ended				0 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended						12 Months Ended								0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	48 Months Ended	12 Months Ended					0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Sep. 10, 2012 extension sqft	Dec. 31, 2012 Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Nov. 04, 2011 Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	May 11, 2009 Executive Vice President [Member]	Nov. 30, 2011 Executive Vice President [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Executive Vice President [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Castle Brands [Member]	Oct. 31, 2008 Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Castle Brands [Member]	Oct. 14, 2011 Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 30, 2010 Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Management Fees [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Management Fees [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Management Fees [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Management Fees [Member] Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Management Fees [Member] Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Management Fees [Member] Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Management Fee Increase [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Management Fee Increase [Member] Castle Brands [Member]	Nov. 04, 2011 Aggregate Funding Fee [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Insurance Commissions [Member] President [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Insurance Commissions [Member] President [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Insurance Commissions [Member] President [Member]	Jan. 31, 2013 Investment [Member] OPKO Inc. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Investment [Member] OPKO Inc. [Member] investments	Dec. 31, 2008 Investment [Member] Cardo Medical Inc. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Investment [Member] Cocrystal Discovery Inc. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member] Executive Vice President [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	May 11, 2009 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note Due 2014 Executive Vice President [Member]	May 11, 2009 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note Due 2014 Private Placement Purchase Price [Member] Executive Vice President [Member]	May 11, 2009 5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due November 15, 2011 [Member] Executive Vice President [Member]	May 11, 2009 5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due November 15, 2011 [Member] Private Placement Tender Offer [Member] Executive Vice President [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Warrant [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Warrant [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Nov. 04, 2011 Warrant [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Warrant [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Warrant [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] Castle Brands [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Preferred Stock [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] Castle Brands [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party															$ 750	$ 600	$ 600	$ 100	$ 100	$ 100	$ 750	$ 100	$ 75	$ 200	$ 205	$ 431
Investment in equity securities, shares held																																							1,000,000
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross										4,000
Related Party Transaction, Acquistion Percentage Ownership										11.00%
Related Party Transaction, Warrant Issued												357,796
Related Party Transaction, Warrants Convertible to Common Stock												357,796
Related Party Transaction, Warrant Exercisable Price		$ 1.68									$ 0.38
Investment owned at cost																																					717	1,890		52	72	156
Related Party Transaction, Number of investments																												3
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party, President Compensation		600	500	200
Stock Ownership In Company Percentage							18.50%	18.50%
Related Party Transaction, Management Loan Agreement									2,500				1,000																				50,000
Related Party Transaction, Principal and Interest Exchanged For Preferred Stock												217
Related Party Transaction, Management Loan Agreement Portion Attributable to Company					15,000								900	200
Related Party Transaction, Debt Interest Rate		11.00%							11.00%																		3.00%						6.75%		5.00%
Related Party Transactions, Principal Premium Percentage						107.00%
Related Party Transactions, Line of Credit, Commitment Fee Percentage									1.00%
Related Party Transaction, Interest Income From Management Loan		1,650	261
Related Party Transaction, Accrued and Unpaid Interest Included in Outstanding Principal																																36.00%
Related Party Transaction, Percentage of Principal Due In Two Installments																																10.00%
Related Party Transaction, Other Revenues from Transactions with Related Party, Vice President Compensation		600	500	200
Related Party Transaction, Credit Facility Term									3 years
Related Party Transaction, Amounts of Transaction																											5,000	11,000	500	250				(38,225)		11,005
Related Party Transactions, Percentage Ownership Of Investments By Management																															10.00%
Square Footage of Real Estate	12,390
Initial Term of Lease	5 years
Number of Lease Extensions	2
Term of Lease Extensions	5 years
Related Party Transactions, Lease Payments Per Month in Year One	31
Related Party Transactions, Lease Payments Per Month in Year Five	35
Related Party Transaction, Tenant Improvement Allowance	$ 220