Notes Payable, Long Term Debt and Other Obligations (Textuals) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended						1 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facility [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Feb. 21, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Vector [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Vector [Member]	Feb. 28, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Feb. 12, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Jan. 29, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Mar. 14, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Feb. 13, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] 11% Senior Secured Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Vector [Member] Secured Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Vector [Member] Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Vector [Member] Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2012 Vector [Member] Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Vector [Member] Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures Due 2026 [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Wells Fargo Adjusted Eurodollar Rate [Member] Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility maximum borrowing capacity									$ 50,000	$ 50,000
Days of notice required to terminate credit facility									30 days
Basis spread on variable rate										2.00%																					1.75%
Minimum Ebitda Ratio On Trailing Twelve Month Basis If Excess Availability Is Less Than 20000 Thousand										100,000
Excess availability in credit facility threshold										20,000
Capital expenditure requirement, maximum carryover amount										2,500
Maximum Capital Expenditures Allowed Before Maximum Carryover Amount of 2500 Thousand										15,000
Debt amount														5,600							415,000		78,685						31,370	2
Long-term debt	672,258		672,258		623,724					27,034	29,430	4,032	4,179	4,425				450,000	0			0			414,592		7,224	7,115
Periodic payment amount												25
Total periodic payments over the term of the loan												885
Outstanding principal after total future periodic payments												3,540
Line of Credit Facility amount outstanding								31,066
Line of Credit Facility remaining borrowing capacity								18,934
Principal amount of debt sold																	450,000
Interest Rate						7.75%	11.00%										7.75%					11.00%				3.875%
Debt redemption price as a percentage of principal amount																	107.75%						103.667%	103.667%
Proceeds from debt issuance			453,080	14,018											450,000	0	438,250
Extinguishment of debt																				336,315	336,315	17,820
Debt instrument, premium percentage																				104.292%	104.292%
Debt Instrument, percent of principal																	35.00%
Mandatory Redemption Percent In Event Of Change In Control																	101.00%
Subsidiary Guarantors, Percentage Ownership																	100.00%
Maximum Term to Consummate Registered Exchange Offer																	360 days
Covenant, Indenture Threshold for Earnings for Payment of Dividends																	75,000
Covenant, Leverage Ratio Requirement																	3.0
Covenant, Secured Leverage Ratio Requirement																	1.5
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(21,458)	0											(21,458)							(21,458)
Accelerated interest expense	0	7,888	0	7,888																		3,638					7,888
Shares issued upon conversion																													2,053,065	131
Debt reclassified from debt to equity																											31,372
Debentures outstanding																											$ 67,628