New Valley LLC (Other Schedules) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Apr. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 13, 2013
Preliminary fair values of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and the non-controlling interest recorded for Douglas Elliman
Goodwill	$ 70,791		$ 70,791
Other Investments
Real estate held for sale, net	23,318		10,643
New Valley LLC [Member]
Other Investments
Investment in consolidated real estate businesses, net	23,318		10,643
Land and land improvements	8,907		8,953
Building and building improvements	1,875		1,865
Other	1,923		1,568
Real estate investment, at cost	12,705		12,386
Less accumulated depreciation	(1,989)		(1,743)
Real estate investment, net	10,716		10,643
New Valley LLC [Member] | Escena [Member]
Other Investments
Real estate held for sale, net	10,716		10,643
New Valley LLC [Member] | Sagaponack [Member]
Other Investments
Real estate held for sale, net	$ 12,602		$ 0
Investment in consolidated real estate businesses, net		$ 12,502
New Valley LLC [Member] | Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]
Preliminary fair values of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and the non-controlling interest recorded for Douglas Elliman
Cash and cash equivalents				$ 116,935
Other current assets				12,647
Property, plant and equipment, net				20,275
Trademarks				80,000
Goodwill				70,406
Other intangible assets, net				18,784
Other non-current assets				3,384
Total assets acquired				322,431
Notes payable - current				201
Other current liabilities				26,352
Notes payable - long term				420
Other long-term liabilities				4,022
Total liabilities assumed				30,995
Net assets acquired				291,436
Non-controlling interest				85,703
New Valley LLC [Member] | Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member] | Preliminary [Member]
Preliminary fair values of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and the non-controlling interest recorded for Douglas Elliman
Cash and cash equivalents				116,935
Other current assets				12,647
Property, plant and equipment, net				20,275
Trademarks				80,000
Goodwill				72,135
Other intangible assets, net				12,928
Other non-current assets				3,384
Total assets acquired				318,304
Notes payable - current				201
Other current liabilities				26,247
Notes payable - long term				420
Other long-term liabilities				0
Total liabilities assumed				26,868
Net assets acquired				291,436
Non-controlling interest				85,703
New Valley LLC [Member] | Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member] | Measurement Period Adjustments [Member]
Preliminary fair values of the assets acquired, liabilities assumed and the non-controlling interest recorded for Douglas Elliman
Cash and cash equivalents				0
Other current assets				0
Property, plant and equipment, net				0
Trademarks				0
Goodwill				(1,729)
Other intangible assets, net				5,856
Other non-current assets				0
Total assets acquired				4,127
Notes payable - current				0
Other current liabilities				105
Notes payable - long term				0
Other long-term liabilities				4,022
Total liabilities assumed				4,127
Net assets acquired				0
Non-controlling interest				$ 0