Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 326,365	$ 234,466
Investment securities available for sale	346,043	172,534
Accounts receivable — trade, net	23,328	12,159
Inventories	90,323	93,496
Deferred income taxes	29,192	50,479
Income tax receivable, net	3,282	0
Restricted assets	2,595	1,785
Other current assets	36,718	23,392
Total current assets	857,846	588,311
Property, plant and equipment, net	84,112	79,258
Real estate held for sale, net	10,643	20,911
Long-term investments	40,292	29,383
Investments in real estate ventures	163,460	128,202
Restricted assets	12,013	11,981
Deferred income taxes	51,129	51,474
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	269,972	275,108
Prepaid pension costs	25,032	26,080
Other assets	58,893	53,553
Total assets	1,573,392	1,264,261
Current liabilities:
Current portion of notes payable and long-term debt	52,640	151,577
Current portion of fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	884	19,128
Current payments due under the Master Settlement Agreement	26,322	25,348
Current portion of employee benefits	931	939
Income taxes payable	1,743	6,423
Litigation accruals	3,149	59,310
Deferred income taxes	57,671	45,734
Other current liabilities	126,755	96,651
Total current liabilities	270,095	405,110
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion	860,711	540,766
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	168,502	92,934
Non-current employee benefits	49,314	47,917
Deferred income taxes	145,639	137,650
Payments due under the Master Settlement Agreement	25,809	27,571
Litigation accruals	25,700	27,058
Other liabilities	5,570	6,864
Total liabilities	1,551,340	1,285,870
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity (deficiency):
Preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, 10,000,000 shares authorized	0	0
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share, 250,000,000 and 150,000,000 shares authorized, 118,646,261 and 101,430,853 shares issued and 114,501,014 and 97,482,998 shares outstanding	11,450	9,748
Additional paid-in capital	0	0
Accumulated deficit	(90,160)	(114,787)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	34,540	22,860
Less: 4,145,247 and 3,947,855 shares of common stock in treasury, at cost	(12,857)	(12,857)
Total Vector Group Ltd. stockholders’ (deficiency)	(57,027)	(95,036)
Non-controlling interest	79,079	73,427
Total stockholders’ equity (deficiency)	22,052	(21,609)
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficiency)	$ 1,573,392	$ 1,264,261