Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 270,572	$ 326,365
Investment securities available for sale	352,811	346,043
Accounts receivable - trade, net	18,092	23,328
Inventories	99,058	90,323
Deferred income taxes	28,057	29,192
Income taxes receivable, net	6,801	3,282
Restricted assets	2,221	2,595
Other current assets	43,389	36,718
Total current assets	821,001	857,846
Property, plant and equipment, net	82,293	84,112
Real estate held for sale, net	10,592	10,643
Long-term investments	45,159	40,292
Investments in real estate ventures	170,780	163,460
Restricted assets	19,320	12,013
Deferred income taxes	49,595	51,129
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net	268,521	269,972
Prepaid pension costs	25,833	25,032
Other assets	57,829	58,893
Total assets	1,550,923	1,573,392
Current liabilities:
Current portion of notes payable and long-term debt	20,864	52,640
Current portion of fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	0	884
Current payments due under the Master Settlement Agreement	51,527	26,322
Current portion of employee benefits	931	931
Income taxes payable, net	1,753	1,743
Litigation accruals	3,363	3,149
Deferred income taxes	58,599	57,671
Other current liabilities	106,661	126,755
Total current liabilities	243,698	270,095
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations, less current portion	868,133	860,711
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	162,039	168,502
Non-current employee benefits	49,504	49,314
Deferred income taxes	147,132	145,639
Payments due under the Master Settlement Agreement	25,809	25,809
Litigation accruals	22,838	25,700
Other liabilities	5,424	5,570
Total liabilities	1,524,577	1,551,340
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
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 250,000,000 shares authorized, 120,943,959 and 118,646,261 shares issued and 116,798,712 and 114,501,014 shares outstanding	11,680	11,450
Additional paid-in capital	0	0
Accumulated deficit	(88,421)	(90,160)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	36,539	34,540
Less: 4,145,247 and 4,145,247 shares of common stock in treasury, at cost	(12,857)	(12,857)
Total Vector Group Ltd. stockholders' deficiency	(53,059)	(57,027)
Non-controlling interest	79,405	79,079
Total stockholders' equity	26,346	22,052
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$ 1,550,923	$ 1,573,392