Long-Term Investments (Combined Financial Statements for Unconsolidated Subsidiaries) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
Indian Creek and Boyar Value Fund [Member]
Balance Sheets
Investment securities	$ 67,546		$ 40,676
Cash and cash equivalents	33		101
Other assets	28		8,664
Total assets	67,607		49,441
Other liabilities	17,216		408
Total liabilities	17,216		408
Total shareholders' equity	50,391		49,033
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	67,607		49,441
Income Statement
Revenues	438		565		$ 3,314
Expenses	(684)		(868)		(1,298)
Gross profit (loss)	(246)		(303)		2,016
Total net realized (loss) gain and net change in unrealized depreciation from investments	3,341		(14,809)		(168)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 3,095		$ (15,112)		$ 1,848
Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc.
Balance Sheets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 105,989		$ 114,548
Receivables from clearing brokers, note receivable and other receivable, net		115,887		115,334
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		251,411		269,774
Other assets		70,469		63,634
Total assets		543,756		563,290
Accrued compensation and commissions and fees payable		76,191		72,936
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		37,189		24,615
Unamortized discount		1,001		1,665
Notes payable, net of unamortized discount		48,364		59,184
Other liabilities		30,716		21,487
Total liabilities		192,460		178,222
Preferred stock		1		1
Common stock		19		19
Additional paid-in capital		509,335		517,988
Accumulated deficit		(158,055)		(132,952)
Total controlling shareholders' equity		351,300		385,056
Non-controlling interest		(4)		12
Total shareholders' equity		351,296		385,068
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		543,756		563,290
Income Statement
Revenues		1,104,227		1,122,735		$ 867,756
Expenses		(1,119,366)		(1,132,010)		(856,072)
Gross profit (loss)		(15,139)		(9,275)		11,684
Change in fair value of contingent consideration		(154)		31		12
Income (loss) from continuing operations		(15,293)		(9,244)		11,696
Net income (loss)		(25,159)		4,396		22,482
Castle Brands, Inc.
Balance Sheets
Current assets		42,285		36,922
Non-current assets		9,085		9,845
Total assets		51,370		46,767
Current liabilities		12,583		9,947
Non-current liabilities		15,215		13,696
Total liabilities		27,798		23,643
Total controlling shareholders' equity		19,838		19,978
Non-controlling interest		3,734		3,146
Total shareholders' equity		23,572		23,124
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity		51,370		46,767
Income Statement
Revenues		73,549		67,143		51,426
Expenses		(44,236)		(41,317)		(32,495)
Gross profit (loss)		29,313		25,826		18,931
Other expenses		(28,338)		(25,920)		(20,399)
Income (loss) from continuing operations		975		(94)		(1,468)
Net income (loss)		$ (1,263)		$ (2,946)		$ (4,845)