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New Valley LLC (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended																								3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Douglas Elliman Realty Formerly Prudential [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Sesto Holdings S r. l. [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Sesto Holdings S r. l. [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 1107 Broadway [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 1107 Broadway [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Lofts 21 LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Lofts 21 LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Hotel Taiwana LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Hotel Taiwana LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 HFZ East 68th Street [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 HFZ East 68th Street [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 11 Beach Street Investor LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 11 Beach Street Investor LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 NV Maryland LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 NV Maryland LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 NV 701 Seventh Avenue LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 NV 701 Seventh Avenue LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Queens Plaza [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Queens Plaza [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Chrystie Street [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Chrystie Street [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 New Valley Oaktree Chelsea Eleven LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 New Valley Oaktree Chelsea Eleven LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Apr. 30, 2012 Chelsea Eleven LLC [Member] New Valley Oaktree Chelsea Eleven LLC [Member] units	Mar. 31, 2013 Indian Creek [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Apr. 30, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member] Hotel Taiwana LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses	$ 119,603		$ 119,219	$ 119,603	$ 119,219	$ 64,468		$ 65,171		$ 5,037	$ 5,037	$ 5,839	$ 5,566	$ 900	$ 900	$ 3,225	$ 2,658	$ 7,000	$ 7,000	$ 10,137	$ 9,642	$ 4,348	$ 4,615	$ 9,307	$ 9,307	$ 7,350	$ 7,350	$ 1,992	$ 1,973				$ 7,616
Equity income from non-consolidated real estate businesses						623	1,444																							715
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses	0	740				1,325	2,325																							1,667
Number of units sold (in units)																																2
Number of units in real estate property																																54
Ownership percentage								50.00%	20.00%																						40.00%		80.00%
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment																															0
Additional real estate investment to be made																567																		3,088
Land and building																																	9,520
Equity interest	(108,295)		(79,252)																														7,616
Minority interest	$ 1,904		$ 0																														$ 1,904