Notes Payable, Long Term Debt and Other Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 14, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	$ 895,168	$ 913,351
Less: Current maturities	(8,919)	(52,640)
Amount due after one year	886,249	860,711
Unamortized discount	210,241
Secured Debt [Member] | 7.75% Senior Secured Notes Due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	608,014	609,275
Unamortized discount	8,014	9,275
Secured Debt [Member] | 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note Due 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount	0	0
Convertible Debt [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount	218,255	245,465		$ 201,075	$ 273,323
Convertible Debt [Member] | 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note Due 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	0	25,000	$ 0
Convertible Debt [Member] | 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	172,614	159,919
Unamortized discount	86,136	98,831
Convertible Debt [Member] | 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	97,881	83,366
Unamortized discount	132,119	146,634
Line of Credit [Member] | Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	3,213	17,767
Line of Credit [Member] | Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member] | Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	3,269	3,589
Loans Payable [Member] | Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	9,716	13,966
Other [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Total notes payable, long - term debt and other obligations	$ 461	$ 469