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New Valley LLC (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended					0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended																											3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended									3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended													0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 13, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Land Development [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Land Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Sesto Holdings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Sesto Holdings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 10 Madison Square Park West (f/k/a 1107 Broadway) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 10 Madison Square Park West (f/k/a 1107 Broadway) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] The Whitman [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] The Whitman [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] The Marquand [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] The Marquand [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Eleven Beach Street [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Eleven Beach Street [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 701 Seventh Avenue [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 701 Seventh Avenue [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 101 Murray Street [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 101 Murray Street [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Leroy Street [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Leroy Street [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] PUBLIC Chrystie House (f/k/a Chrystie Street) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] PUBLIC Chrystie House (f/k/a Chrystie Street) [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 25-19 43rd Avenue [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 25-19 43rd Avenue [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 23-10 Queens Plaza South [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 23-10 Queens Plaza South [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 8701 Collins Avenue [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 8701 Collins Avenue [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Maryland Portfolio [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Maryland Portfolio [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] ST Portfolio [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] ST Portfolio [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member] Minimum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member] Maximum [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Park Lane Hotel [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Park Lane Hotel [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotel Taiwana [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotel Taiwana [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Coral Beach [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Coral Beach [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Other Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Other Investments [Member]	May 12, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Indian Creek [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Indian Creek [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Indian Creek [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage												50.00%										5.00%	49.50%																												7.50%	16.40%									5.00%	49.00%											80.00%
Percent of acquired interest in affiliate								20.59%
Ownership Percentage in Affiliate											70.59%
Investments in subsidiaries			$ 0	$ 0				$ 60,000
Goodwill											(454)
Total current liabilities	380,312		380,312		405,110						(105)
Intangible assets. net	8,755		8,755		11,919						559
Equity (loss) income from non-consolidated real estate businesses	(1,808)	6,804	(256)	7,285					6,815	7,438							7	130	2,299	130																										(217)	(142)	(164)	(283)								(857)	(2,171)
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses			(3,539)	0						(2,636)									(5,791)	(130)																												(250)	(125)																						(7,100)
Investments in non-consolidated real estate businesses	133,629		133,629		128,202	133,629	128,202						5,037	5,037	5,037	5,037	78,562		78,562		71,358			6,384	6,579	526	1,165	7,000	7,000	12,328	11,160	11,324	11,148	23,006	19,256	652	1,150	3,081	2,048	733	0	9,528	8,058	4,000	3,794	19,068		19,068		19,482			3,518	3,498	15,550	15,984	28,324	28,324	29,906				17,447	19,514	7,467	7,428	3,410	2,964	2,638	2,419			7,616
Long-term investments accounted for under the equity method	17,842		17,842		8,595												10,696	15,392	10,696	15,392																																					589	589		3,655
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment																	78,562		78,562																											19,068		19,068									28,324	28,324
Proceeds from sale of equity method investments																																																																							14,400
Operating income (loss)	$ 60,308	$ 44,240	$ 103,030	$ 87,336																																																																				$ 2,400