New Valley LLC Schedule of Consolidated Real Estate Investments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment in consolidated real estate businesses, net	$ 22,733	$ 13,295
New Valley LLC [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment in consolidated real estate businesses, net	22,733	13,295
New Valley LLC [Member] \| Escena [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment in consolidated real estate businesses, net	13,213	13,295
New Valley LLC [Member] \| Indian Creek [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investment in consolidated real estate businesses, net	$ 9,520	$ 0

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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