Notes Payable, Long Term Debt and Other Obligations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified					3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				3 Months Ended										3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Vector [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Vector [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note Due 2014	Dec. 31, 2012 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note Due 2014	Mar. 31, 2013 Variable Interest 6.75% Senior Convertible Exchange Notes 2014 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Variable Interest 6.75% Senior Convertible Exchange Notes 2014 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Variable Interest 7.50% Senior Convertible Debentures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Variable Interest 7.50% Senior Convertible Debentures [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member] Vector [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member] Vector [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member] Vector [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member] Vector [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt [Member] 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note Due 2014 Vector [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Debt [Member] 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note Due 2014 Vector [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 6.75% Senior Convertible Exchange Notes 2014 [Member] Vector [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 6.75% Senior Convertible Exchange Notes 2014 [Member] Vector [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member] Vector [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member] Vector [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 7.50% Senior Convertible Debentures [Member] Vector [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 7.50% Senior Convertible Debentures [Member] Vector [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Liggett [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member] Liggett [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member] Liggett [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member] Liggett [Member]	Feb. 21, 2012 Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member] Liggett [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Loans Payable [Member] Liggett [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Loans Payable [Member] Liggett [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Other [Member] Liggett [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Other [Member] Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	$ 645,620	$ 623,724											$ 450,000	$ 0	$ 0	$ 414,592	$ 21,651	$ 19,617	$ 66,426	$ 62,492	$ 7,164	$ 7,115	$ 69,510	$ 68,205	$ 10,502	$ 29,430	$ 4,105	$ 4,179	$ 4,425	$ 16,022	$ 17,810	$ 240	$ 284
Less: Current maturities	(17,624)	(36,778)	0	0
Amount due after one year	627,996	586,946	614,751	572,023
Unamortized Discount															0	408	28,349	30,383	41,104	45,038	36,058	36,107	160,490	161,795
Convertible debt effective interest rate					6.75%		6.75%				7.50%										3.875%
Fair value of the derivatives embedded	$ 169,079	$ 172,128	$ 169,079	$ 172,128	$ 10,363	$ 11,682	$ 19,644	$ 22,146	$ 41,263	$ 39,714	$ 97,809	$ 98,586