New Valley LLC (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) units	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) units	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	May. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 13, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Equity (loss) income from real estate ventures		$ (916)	$ 3,258	$ 1,278	$ 3,002
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses				(11,205)	(5,540)
Investments in real estate ventures		194,052		194,052				$ 163,460
Operating income (loss)		69,605	62,984	169,600	166,014
Provision for loss on real estate held for sale		(229)	0	(229)	0
New Valley LLC [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		194,052		194,052				163,460
New Valley LLC [Member] | Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage									70.59%
New Valley LLC [Member] | Land Development [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		5,037		5,037				5,037
New Valley LLC [Member] | Milanosesto Holdings (Sesto Holdings)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		5,037		5,037				5,037
New Valley LLC [Member] | Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Equity (loss) income from real estate ventures		$ 248	5,090	$ 923	7,389
Number of units in real estate property sold | units		5		5
Investments in real estate ventures		$ 133,407		$ 133,407				108,149
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment		$ 130,027		$ 130,027
New Valley LLC [Member] | Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		5.00%		5.00%
New Valley LLC [Member] | Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		49.50%		49.50%
New Valley LLC [Member] | 10 Madison Square Park West (1107 Broadway)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Equity (loss) income from real estate ventures					$ 2,254
Investments in real estate ventures		$ 9,522		$ 9,522				6,383
New Valley LLC [Member] | The Marquand
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Equity (loss) income from real estate ventures			$ 5,000
Percentage of units in real estate property sold			40.00%		40.00%
Investments in real estate ventures		13,900		13,900				12,000
New Valley LLC [Member] | 11 Beach Street
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		11,928		11,928				12,328
New Valley LLC [Member] | 20 Times Square (701 Seventh Avenue)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		$ 13,095		$ 13,095				12,481
New Valley LLC [Member] | 111 Murray Street
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		9.50%		9.50%		25.00%
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses				$ (11,441)
Investments in real estate ventures		$ 16,114		16,114				27,319
New Valley LLC [Member] | 357 West (160 Leroy Street)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		1,950		1,950				1,467
New Valley LLC [Member] | PUBLIC Chrystie House (Chrystie Street)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		5,297		5,297				3,300
New Valley LLC [Member] | The Dutch (25-19 43rd Avenue)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		980		980				733
New Valley LLC [Member] | Queens Plaza (23-10 Queens Plaza South)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		14,732		14,732				11,082
New Valley LLC [Member] | 87 Park (8701 Collins Avenue)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		5,654		5,654				6,144
New Valley LLC [Member] | 125 Greenwich Street
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		11,193		11,193				9,308
New Valley LLC [Member] | West Hollywood Edition (9040 Sunset Boulevard)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		5,604		5,604				5,604
New Valley LLC [Member] | 76 Eleventh Avenue
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage							5.10%
Investments in real estate ventures		17,000		17,000				0
Investment partnership accounted for under the equity method							$ 17,000
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment		17,000		17,000
New Valley LLC [Member] | Monad Terrace
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage						31.30%
Investments in real estate ventures		6,438		6,438				0
Investment partnership accounted for under the equity method						$ 6,200
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment		6,438		6,438
New Valley LLC [Member] | 10 Madison Square Park West, Queens Plaza and 125 Greenwich Street, 76 Eleventh Avenue and Monad Terrace [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investment partnership accounted for under the equity method		35,776		35,776
New Valley LLC [Member] | 111 Murray Street, Queens Plaza and 125 Greenwich Street [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investment partnership accounted for under the equity method			$ 27,225		$ 27,225
New Valley LLC [Member] | 10 Madison Square Park West, 125 Greenwich Street, 11 Beach Street and 20 Times Square [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Equity (loss) income from real estate ventures				344
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses					(4,547)
New Valley LLC [Member] | Apartment Buildings [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Equity (loss) income from real estate ventures		(72)	(87)	1,730	(251)
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses				(1,989)	(375)
Investments in real estate ventures		18,258		18,258				18,517
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment		$ 18,258		$ 18,258
New Valley LLC [Member] | Apartment Buildings [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		7.60%		7.60%
New Valley LLC [Member] | Apartment Buildings [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		16.30%		16.30%
New Valley LLC [Member] | Maryland Portfolio [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		$ 1,377		$ 1,377				3,234
New Valley LLC [Member] | ST Portfolio [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		16,881		16,881				15,283
New Valley LLC [Member] | Hotels [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Equity (loss) income from real estate ventures		(1,323)	(2,053)	(2,330)	(4,222)
Investments in real estate ventures		29,733		29,733				29,786
Investment partnership accounted for under the equity method		2,277	1,973	2,277	1,973
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment		$ 29,733		$ 29,733
New Valley LLC [Member] | Hotels [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		5.00%		5.00%
New Valley LLC [Member] | Hotels [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		49.00%		49.00%
New Valley LLC [Member] | Park Lane Hotel [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		$ 19,373		$ 19,373				19,341
New Valley LLC [Member] | Hotel Taiwana [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		7,337		7,337				7,629
New Valley LLC [Member] | Coral Beach and Tennis Club [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		$ 3,023		$ 3,023				2,816
New Valley LLC [Member] | Commercial [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage		49.00%		49.00%
Equity (loss) income from real estate ventures		$ 20		$ 47
Investments in real estate ventures		5,638		5,638				0
Investment partnership accounted for under the equity method		5,931		5,931
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment		5,638		5,638
New Valley LLC [Member] | Plaza at Harmon Meadow [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		5,638		5,638				0
New Valley LLC [Member] | Harmon Meadow [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investment partnership accounted for under the equity method		340		340
New Valley LLC [Member] | Other Investments [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures		1,979		1,979				$ 1,971
New Valley LLC [Member] | Escena, net
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)		$ (779)	$ (804)	$ (227)	(571)
New Valley LLC [Member] | Indian Creek [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage										80.00%
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses	$ (7,100)
Investments in real estate ventures										$ 7,616
Operating income (loss)					$ 2,400
Sales proceeds	$ 14,400