Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues
Total Revenues		$ 1,690,949	$ 1,657,197	$ 1,591,315
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales		1,097,344	1,109,727	1,097,060
Operating, selling, administrative and general expenses		340,567	320,221	279,342
Litigation settlement and judgment expense		20,000	20,072	2,475
Restructuring charges		41	7,257	0
Operating income		232,997	199,920	212,438
Other income (expenses):
Interest expense		(142,982)	(120,691)	(160,991)
Change in fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt		31,710	24,455	19,409
Acceleration of interest expense related to debt conversion		0	0	(5,205)
Equity in (losses) earnings from investments		(2,754)	(2,681)	3,140
Gain (loss) on sale of investment securities available for sale		2,907	11,138	(11)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		5,200	2,001	4,103
Impairment of investment securities available for sale		(5,381)	(12,846)	0
Other, net		4,732	6,409	9,396
Income before provision for income taxes		126,429	107,705	82,279
Income tax expense		49,163	41,233	33,165
Net income		77,266	66,472	49,114
Net income attributed to non-controlling interest		(6,139)	(7,274)	(12,258)
Net income attributed to Vector Group Ltd.		$ 71,127	$ 59,198	$ 36,856
Per basic common share:
Net income applicable to common share attributed to Vector Group Ltd. (in dollars per share)		$ 0.56	$ 0.46	$ 0.32
Per diluted common share:
Net income applicable to common share attributed to Vector Group Ltd. (in dollars per share)		0.55	0.46	0.32
Cash distributions declared per share (in dollars per share)		$ 1.54	$ 1.47	$ 1.40
Tobacco
Revenues
Total Revenues	[1]	$ 1,011,620	$ 1,017,761	$ 1,021,259
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales	[1]	672,431	697,900	735,725
Restructuring charges		41	7,257
Real Estate
Revenues
Total Revenues		680,105	641,406	561,467
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales		424,829	410,287	354,028
E-Cigarettes
Revenues
Total Revenues		(776)	(1,970)	8,589
Cost of sales:
Total cost of sales		$ 84	$ 1,540	$ 7,307

[1] Revenues and cost of sales include federal excise taxes of $425,980, $439,647 and $446,086 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.