New Valley LLC (Investment in Real Estate Ventures) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 221,258	$ 221,258	$ 217,168
Total contributions		44,107	70,272	$ 40,916
Distributions from real estate ventures		33,204	17,563	7,309
Distributions from real estate ventures, return on capital		23,446	5,894	5,152
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		5,200	2,001	4,103
New Valley LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	221,258	221,258	217,168
Total contributions		44,107	70,272
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(56,650)	(23,457)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		5,200	2,001	4,103
Total maximum exposure to loss	228,585	228,585
Interest costs capitalized		11,433	9,928
New Valley LLC \| Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
VIE's assets	$ 14,385	$ 14,385	$ 13,702
New Valley LLC \| Monad Terrace
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	24.30%	24.30%	31.30%
New Valley LLC \| Wynn/CA JV, LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	2.10%	2.10%
Payments to acquire equity method investments	$ 10,000
New Valley LLC \| New York City SMSA \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	3.10%	3.10%
New Valley LLC \| New York City SMSA \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	49.50%	49.50%
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 172,720	$ 172,720	$ 164,023
Total contributions		29,535	61,068
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(37,910)	(18,787)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		5,639	3,664	7,906
Total maximum exposure to loss	180,047	180,047
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	131,770	131,770	138,247
Total contributions		5,661	48,232
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(27,574)	(18,787)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		7,432	4,533	7,806
Total maximum exposure to loss	133,335	133,335
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	40,950	40,950	25,776
Total contributions		23,874	12,836
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(10,336)	0
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		(1,793)	(869)	100
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 46,712	$ 46,712
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	15.00%	15.00%
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	48.50%	48.50%
New Valley LLC \| Apartment Buildings
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 8,287	$ 8,287	15,754
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(9,055)	(3,290)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		1,588	527	341
Total maximum exposure to loss	8,287	8,287
New Valley LLC \| Apartment Buildings \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	8,287	8,287	15,754
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(9,055)	(3,290)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		1,588	527	341
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 8,287	$ 8,287
New Valley LLC \| Apartment Buildings \| All other U.S. areas \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	7.60%	7.60%
New Valley LLC \| Apartment Buildings \| All other U.S. areas \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	16.30%	16.30%
New Valley LLC \| Hotels
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 24,932	$ 24,932	29,925
Total contributions		4,572	3,273
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(8,120)	0
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		(1,445)	(3,134)	(4,255)
Total maximum exposure to loss	24,932	24,932
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 21,895	$ 21,895	19,697
Range of ownership	5.20%	5.20%
Total contributions		$ 4,082	1,896
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		(1,884)	(1,540)	(2,643)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 21,895	21,895
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| International
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 3,037	$ 3,037	10,228
Range of ownership	49.00%	49.00%
Total contributions		$ 490	1,377
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(8,120)	0
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		439	(1,594)	(1,612)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 3,037	3,037
New Valley LLC \| Commercial
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	13,290	13,290	5,449
Total contributions		10,000	5,931
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(515)	(480)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		(1,644)	(2)	0
Total maximum exposure to loss	13,290	13,290
New Valley LLC \| Commercial \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 3,290	$ 3,290	5,449
Range of ownership	49.00%	49.00%
Total contributions		$ 0	5,931
Total distributions from real estate ventures		(515)	(480)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		(1,644)	(2)	0
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 3,290	3,290
New Valley LLC \| Commercial \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 10,000	$ 10,000	0
Range of ownership	2.10%	2.10%
Total contributions		$ 10,000	0
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 10,000	10,000
New Valley LLC \| Other
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 2,029	$ 2,029	2,017
Range of ownership	50.00%	50.00%
Total distributions from real estate ventures		$ (1,050)	(900)
Equity in earnings from real estate ventures		1,062	946	$ 111
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 2,029	2,029
Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from commissions received		$ 15,078	$ 3,077

This item represents disclosure of the amount of dividends or other distributions received from unconsolidated subsidiaries, certain corporate joint ventures, and certain noncontrolled corporation; these investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. This element excludes distributions that constitute a return of investment, which are classified as investing activities.

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