New Valley LLC (Combined Financial Statements for Unconsolidated Subsidiaries) (Details) - New Valley LLC - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Condominium and Mixed Use Development
Income Statement
Revenues	$ 511,844	$ 141,884	$ 182,635
Costs and expenses	303,020	92,837	96,993
Other expenses	42,566	10,672	6,798
Income (loss) from continuing operations	166,258	38,375	78,844
Balance Sheets
Investment in real estate	3,413,928	2,921,611
Total assets	3,786,206	3,237,835
Total debt	2,478,574	2,014,682
Total liabilities	2,687,351	2,195,940
Non-controlling interest	564,194	535,573
Apartment & Office Buildings
Income Statement
Revenues	87,225	83,871	85,704
Other expenses	83,117	75,384	86,153
Income (loss) from continuing operations	4,108	8,487	(449)
Balance Sheets
Investment in real estate	488,732	590,331
Total assets	522,459	626,513
Total debt	475,668	512,479
Total liabilities	484,377	529,692
Non-controlling interest	(9,931)	(4,463)
Hotels
Income Statement
Revenues	81,517	83,324	82,899
Costs and expenses	4,262	3,837	3,064
Other expenses	114,582	112,069	133,258
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(37,327)	(32,582)	(53,423)
Balance Sheets
Investment in real estate	781,461	824,753
Total assets	854,559	894,447
Total debt	491,200	511,029
Total liabilities	509,385	538,426
Non-controlling interest	312,113	294,470
Commercial
Income Statement
Revenues	8,410	5,638
Other expenses	11,195	5,642
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(2,785)	(4)	0
Balance Sheets
Investment in real estate	61,091	65,398
Total assets	74,512	67,343
Total debt	55,625	55,624
Total liabilities	57,601	56,415
Other
Income Statement
Revenues	3,344	3,030	2,714
Other expenses	1,227	1,049	1,019
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,117	1,981	$ 1,695
Balance Sheets
Total assets	5,382	5,157
Total liabilities	$ 1,230	$ 1,022