Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 430,330	$ 449,934	$ 416,173	$ 360,760	$ 417,590	$ 419,876	$ 406,613	$ 347,236	$ 1,657,197	$ 1,591,315	$ 1,079,921
Operating income (loss)	31,032	$ 69,367	$ 55,803	$ 43,718	47,136	62,746	$ 60,071	$ 42,485	199,920	212,438	111,186
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures									2,001	4,103	22,925
Identifiable assets	1,310,756				1,423,254	1,423,254			1,310,756	1,423,254	1,115,793
Depreciation and amortization									25,654	24,499	12,631
Capital expenditures									10,977	23,404	13,275
Equity method investments	21,495				20,484				21,495	20,484
NPM Settlement [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)										1,419
Litigation Judgment Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)									20,072	2,475	1,893
Restructuring Charges [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)									7,257
Pension Settlement Expense [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)									1,607
MSA Settlements [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)									4,364		11,823
Engle Progeny Settlement Charge [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income (loss)											86,213
Tobacco [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,017,761	1,021,259	1,014,341
Operating income (loss)									209,393	199,119	113,039
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures									0	0	0
Identifiable assets	344,033					325,870			344,033		328,084
Depreciation and amortization									11,323	10,885	9,509
Capital expenditures									3,730	9,256	9,784
E-Cigarettes [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(1,970)	8,589	0
Operating income (loss)									(13,037)	(13,124)	(1,018)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures									0	0	0
Identifiable assets	985					8,139			985		8,950
Depreciation and amortization									0	0	0
Capital expenditures									0	0	0
Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									641,406	561,467	65,580
Operating income (loss)									24,087	42,354	15,805
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures									2,001	4,103	22,925
Identifiable assets	585,098					498,058			585,098		421,240
Depreciation and amortization									12,589	12,204	2,421
Capital expenditures									7,247	6,923	1,194
Equity method investments	217,168				163,460				217,168	163,460	128,202
Long-term Investments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity method investments	21,495				20,484				21,495	20,484	22,411
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									0	0	0
Operating income (loss)									(20,523)	(15,911)	(16,640)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures									0	0	0
Identifiable assets	380,640					$ 591,187			380,640		357,519
Depreciation and amortization									1,742	1,410	701
Capital expenditures									0	7,225	2,297
Corporate and Other [Member] | Cash [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	112,130				213,227				112,130	213,227	152,189
Corporate and Other [Member] | Investment securities [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	181,976				269,100				181,976	269,100	119,430
Corporate and Other [Member] | Long-term Investments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable assets	$ 62,225				$ 52,025				$ 62,225	$ 52,025	$ 42,452