Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Other Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Jan. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2013 Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Minimum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Maximum [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Maximum [Member]	Dec. 13, 2013 Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]
Accounting Policies [Line Items]
Cash equivalent, maturity period										90 days
Marketable securities, ownership interest										20.00%
Allowance for doubtful accounts and cash discounts	$ 577				$ 433	$ 577
Inventory classification of current asset, range								1 year
Current restricted assets	2,469				1,785	2,469
Long-term restricted assets	9,792				11,981	9,792
Additional interest acquired												20.59%
Ownership percentage in equity method investment												50.00%
Ownership percentage in affiliate													70.59%
Payments to acquire additional interest					0							60,000
Indefinite life intangible assets	0				11,360	0
Tax on payments of dividend equivalent rights					4,007	2,709	2,580
Shares paid for exercise of options and tax withholding for share based compensation (in shares)				384,946
Shares paid for exercise of other than options and tax withholding for share based compensation (in shares)	162,397	76,155	67,275
Exercise of stock options (in shares)				448,960	40,175	16,883	557,887
Unrecognized tax benefits, recognition of tax positions, likelihood of being realized upon settlement								50.00%
Shipping and handling fees and costs					5,559	5,474	5,684
Advertising costs					4,839	4,266	3,099
Fair market value of embedded derivatives at the midpoint of the inputs	$ 172,128				$ 112,062	$ 172,128		$ 110,758	$ 169,424	$ 113,392	$ 174,909