(Consolidated Real Estate Investments) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended						12 Months Ended		1 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended				1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	1 Months Ended	2 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2009 Escena [Member]	Dec. 31, 2008 Escena [Member]	Oct. 31, 2013 Escena [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2009 Escena [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Escena [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Escena [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Escena [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Oct. 30, 2013 Escena [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] acre lots units	Mar. 31, 2008 Escena [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] Acre	Dec. 31, 2013 Indian Creek [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	May 31, 2013 Indian Creek [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Indian Creek [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Indian Creek [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	May 31, 2013 Indian Creek [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Indian Creek [Member] Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Aberdeen Townhomes LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] residential_unit	Feb. 28, 2011 Aberdeen Townhomes LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2008 Aberdeen Townhomes LLC [Member] New Valley LLC [Member] residential_unit
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	$ 0				$ 0				$ 0	$ 0			$ 20,911,000	$ 13,295,000					$ 10,625,000	$ 13,295,000				$ 10,286,000			$ 0
Land and land improvements													8,930,000	11,430,000
Building and building improvements													1,530,000	1,530,000
Other													1,577,000	1,374,000
Total Investment in Escena before depreciation													12,037,000	14,334,000
Less accumulated depreciation													(1,412,000)	(1,039,000)
Investment in Escena, net													10,625,000	13,295,000
Operating income (loss)	61,985,000	(37,285,000)	44,240,000	43,096,000	37,366,000	43,193,000	40,928,000	33,446,000	112,036,000	154,933,000	143,321,000								(1,184,000)	628,000	(503,000)
Area of real estate property																							450
Face amount																							20,000,000
Accrued interest and other costs																							1,445,000
Number of Residential Lots																						867
Number of Holes in Golf Course																						0
Area of land																						0
Number of Acres Approved, Pledged as Collateral																							7
Number of units in real estate property																						450								2		5
Proceeds from Guarantor Settlement																		500,000
Asset Impairment Charges															5,000,000	4,000,000
Number of Residential Lots Sold																						0
Proceeds from Sale of Equity Method Investments																	22,700,000													7,994,000	11,635,000
Number of Residential Lots Remaining																						667
Real Estate Investments, Unconsolidated Real Estate and Other Joint Ventures	128,202,000				119,219,000				128,202,000	119,219,000			128,202,000	119,219,000												7,616,000						10,000,000
Ownership percentage in equity method investment																										80.00%
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate, Gross																								9,945,000
Long-term Line of Credit																								3,570,000
Total stockholders’ deficiency	(21,609,000)				(79,252,000)				(21,609,000)	(79,252,000)	(89,030,000)	(46,234,000)												4,742,000
Non-controlling interest	73,427,000				0				73,427,000	0														1,185,000
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses									3,142,000	49,221,000	8,450,000													3,080,000					770,000
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity																									$ 8,400,000
Description of variable rate basis																												LIBOR