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Notes Payable, Long-Term Debt and Other Obligations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 27, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	$ 1,264,694		$ 1,253,542
Less: Debt issuance costs	(22,797)		(25,478)
Total notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	1,241,897		1,228,064
Less: Current maturities	(196,464)		(33,820)
Amount due after one year	1,045,433		1,194,244
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	40,785		76,413
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	$ 34,110
Non-cash in charges	0	1,754
Senior Notes \| 6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	$ 850,000		850,000
Interest rate				6.125%
Senior Notes \| 7.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.75%
Loss on extinguishment of debt		$ 34,110
Convertible Debt \| 7.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Notes due 2019, net of unamortized discount of $55,900 and $69,253
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	$ 174,100		160,747
Unamortized discount	$ 55,900		69,253
Interest rate	7.50%
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	$ 25,061		31,164
Convertible Debt \| 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $48,847 and $53,687
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	209,903		205,063
Unamortized discount	$ 48,847		53,687
Interest rate	5.50%
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	$ 40,785		45,249
Line of Credit \| Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount outstanding	27,760
Remaining borrowing capacity	26,600
Line of Credit \| Revolving credit facility \| Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	25,130		31,614
Line of Credit \| Term loan under credit facility \| Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	2,630		2,704
Equipment loans \| Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	2,248		2,662
Other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	$ 683		$ 752