New Valley LLC Investment in Escena (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)	$ 44,240	$ 40,928	$ 87,336	$ 74,374
Escena [Member] \| New Valley LLC [Member]
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Land and land improvements	11,430		11,430		11,430
Building and building improvements	1,530		1,530		1,530
Other	1,403		1,403		1,374
Total Investment in Escena before depreciation	14,363		14,363		14,334
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,224)		(1,224)		(1,039)
Investment in Escena, net	13,139		13,139		13,295
Operating income (loss)	$ (307)	$ (123)	$ 76	$ 487

Aggregate of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of investments in building and building improvements.

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- Details

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The net result for the period of deducting operating expenses from operating revenues.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The cumulative amount of depreciation for real estate property held for investment purposes.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 1

-Article 7

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Amount of real estate investment property which may include the following: (1) land available-for-sale; (2) land available-for-development; (3) investments in building and building improvements; (4) tenant allowances; (5) developments in-process; (6) rental properties; and (7) other real estate investments.

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Amount of real estate investment property, net of accumulated depreciation, which may include the following: (1) land available-for-sale; (2) land available-for-development; (3) investments in building and building improvements; (4) tenant allowances; (5) developments in-process; (6) rental properties; and (7) other real estate investments.

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Amount of real estate owned for income production and capital accretion potential, not otherwise specified in the existing taxonomy. Such real estate excludes that which is occupied or used in the business, for entertainment purposes, or held in inventory for specific purposes.

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- Definition

Land And Land Improvements

+ References

No definition available.

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