Notes Payable, Long-Term Debt and Other Obligations (Details) - USD ($)		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2015	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		$ 919,454,000	$ 895,168,000
Less: Debt issuance costs		(28,973,000)	(30,141,000)
Total notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		890,481,000	865,027,000
Less: Current maturities		(25,927,000)	(8,919,000)
Amount due after one year		864,554,000	856,108,000
Fair value of the derivatives embedded		134,348,000	144,042,000
7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount of $127,301 and $132,119
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of the derivatives embedded		66,558,000	72,083,000
5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $82,668 and $86,136
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Fair value of the derivatives embedded		67,790,000	71,959,000
Secured Debt | 7.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2021, including premium of $7,685 and $8,014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		$ 607,685,000	608,014,000
Interest rate		7.75%
Premium		$ 7,685,000	8,014,000
Convertible Debt
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Conversion basis amount		1,000
Convertible Debt | 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Note due 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	6.75%
Converted amount	$ 25,000,000
Convertible principal balance	$ 50,000,000
Note conversion (in shares)	2,338,930
Increase in equity from conversion	$ 25,000,000
Convertible Debt | 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount of $127,301 and $132,119
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		$ 102,699,000	97,881,000
Interest rate		7.50%
Unamortized discount		$ 127,301,000	132,119,000
Convertible Debt | 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $82,668 and $86,136
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		$ 176,082,000	172,614,000
Interest rate		5.50%
Unamortized discount		$ 82,668,000	$ 86,136,000
Note conversion (in shares)		40.5891	40.5891
Line of Credit | Revolving credit facility | Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		$ 21,157,000	$ 3,213,000
Line of Credit | Term loan under credit facility | Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		3,220,000	3,269,000
Line of Credit | Revolving Credit and Term Loan Facility | Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount outstanding		24,377,000
Remaining borrowing capacity		35,600,000
Equipment loans | Liggett [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		8,227,000	9,716,000
Other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations		$ 384,000	$ 461,000