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Notes Payable, Long-Term Debt and Other Obligations (Components of Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	$ 1,309,913		$ 1,309,913		$ 1,253,542
Less: Debt issuance costs	(16,785)		(16,785)		(25,478)
Total notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	1,293,128		1,293,128		1,228,064
Less: Current maturities	(234,756)		(234,756)		(33,820)
Amount due after one year	1,058,372		1,058,372		1,194,244
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	32,273		32,273		76,413
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	$ 0	0	$ 34,110
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		850,000
Interest rate	6.125%		6.125%
Senior Notes \| 7.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate	7.75%		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 $23,130 and $69,253
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	$ 206,870		$ 206,870		160,747
Unamortized discount	$ 23,130		$ 23,130		69,253
Interest rate	7.50%		7.50%
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	$ 12,851		$ 12,851		31,164
Convertible Debt \| 5.5% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures due 2020, net of unamortized discount of $38,360 and $53,687
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	220,390		220,390		205,063
Unamortized discount	$ 38,360		$ 38,360		53,687
Interest rate	5.50%		5.50%
Fair value of derivatives embedded within convertible debt	$ 32,273		$ 32,273		45,249
Line of Credit \| Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Amount outstanding	30,722		30,722
Remaining borrowing capacity	16,800		16,800
Line of Credit \| Revolving credit facility \| Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	28,239		28,239		31,614
Line of Credit \| Term loan under credit facility \| Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	2,483		2,483		2,704
Equipment loans \| Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	1,407		1,407		2,662
Other
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations	$ 524		$ 524		$ 752