Notes Payable, Long-Term Debt and Other Obligations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $4,895 and $19,311	Dec. 31, 2013 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $4,895 and $19,311	Jun. 30, 2014 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Exchange Notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $11,569 and $25,944	Dec. 31, 2013 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Exchange Notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $11,569 and $25,944	Jun. 30, 2014 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount of $151,675 and $155,817	Dec. 31, 2013 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount of $151,675 and $155,817	Jun. 30, 2014 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $104,496 and $0	Dec. 31, 2013 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $104,496 and $0	Jun. 30, 2014 Secured Debt 7.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2021, including premium of $9,879 and $0	Dec. 31, 2013 Secured Debt 7.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2021, including premium of $9,879 and $0	Feb. 28, 2013 Secured Debt 7.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2021, including premium of $9,879 and $0	Jun. 30, 2014 Convertible Debt 7.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2021, including premium of $9,879 and $0	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt 7.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2021, including premium of $9,879 and $0	Jun. 30, 2014 Convertible Debt 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $4,895 and $19,311	Mar. 14, 2014 Convertible Debt 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $4,895 and $19,311	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $4,895 and $19,311	Jun. 30, 2014 Convertible Debt 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Exchange Notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $11,569 and $25,944	May 20, 2014 Convertible Debt 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Exchange Notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $11,569 and $25,944	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Exchange Notes due 2014, net of unamortized discount of $11,569 and $25,944	Jun. 30, 2014 Convertible Debt 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount of $151,675 and $155,817	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount of $151,675 and $155,817	Jun. 30, 2014 Convertible Debt 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $104,496 and $0	Mar. 24, 2014 Convertible Debt 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $104,496 and $0	Dec. 31, 2013 Convertible Debt 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $104,496 and $0	Jun. 30, 2014 Line of Credit Revolving credit facility Liggett [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Line of Credit Revolving credit facility Liggett [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Line of Credit Term loan under credit facility Liggett [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Line of Credit Term loan under credit facility Liggett [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Equipment loans Liggett [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Equipment loans Liggett [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Other Liggett [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Other Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate													7.75%			6.75%	6.75%		6.75%	6.75%		7.50%		5.50%	5.50%
Total notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	$ 995,477	$ 692,343									$ 609,879	$ 450,000				$ 20,105		$ 30,689	$ 88,461		$ 81,586	$ 78,325	$ 74,183	$ 154,254		$ 0	$ 21,876	$ 30,424	$ 3,737	$ 3,884	$ 18,237	$ 17,252	$ 603	$ 4,325
Amount due after one year	853,669	540,766
Premium														9,879	0
Unamortized discount																4,895		19,311	11,569		25,944	104,496	0	151,675		155,817
Less: Current maturities	(141,808)	(151,577)
Fair value of the derivatives embedded	$ 183,786	$ 92,934	$ 1,716	$ 6,607	$ 6,052	$ 12,521	$ 96,569	$ 92,934	$ 87,217	$ 0