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New Valley LLC (Investment in Real Estate Ventures) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) venture	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($) venture	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 144,766		$ 144,766				$ 141,105
Total contributions			21,908	$ 4,343
Distributions from real estate ventures			2,060	8,542
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures			23,200	27,134
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	6,391	$ (2,112)	3,952	(8,672)
Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Impairment of long-term investments		2,113		8,467
New Valley LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	144,766		144,766				141,105
Total contributions			21,908	4,343
Distributions			25,260	35,676
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	6,391	(2,112)	3,952	(8,672)
Total maximum exposure to loss	176,966		176,966
Interest costs capitalized	1,688	2,094	3,003	4,303
New Valley LLC \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary \| 352 6th Avenue LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership						37.00%
Investments in real estate ventures						$ 500
Total maximum exposure to loss	517		517
New Valley LLC \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary \| Meatpacking Plaza
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership					17.00%
Investments in real estate ventures					$ 10,018
Total maximum exposure to loss	10,251		10,251
New Valley LLC \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary \| 9 DeKalb
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership					5.50%
Investments in real estate ventures					$ 5,000
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 5,116		$ 5,116
New Valley LLC \| Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Number of real estate ventures \| venture	2		2
VIE's assets	$ 976		$ 976				1,387
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	$ 113,496		$ 113,496				96,399
Total contributions			21,537	533
Distributions			1,850	34,490
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	(3,378)	(473)	(5,592)	(4,439)
Total maximum exposure to loss	130,918		130,918
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	84,593		84,593				65,007
Total contributions			21,537	533
Distributions			571	34,490
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	(1,120)	(152)	(3,226)	(3,613)
Impairment of long-term investments	3,866		1,378
Total maximum exposure to loss	89,515		89,515
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	28,903		28,903				$ 31,392
Distributions			1,279	0
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	(2,258)	(321)	(2,366)	(826)
Impairment of long-term investments		2,700		10,174
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 41,403		$ 41,403
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas \| Monad Terrace [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	17.90%		17.90%				18.00%
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]
Distributions			$ 3	201
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	$ 3	(1,717)	3	(3,297)
New Valley LLC \| Apartment Buildings \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Distributions			3	201
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	3	(1,717)	3	(3,297)
New Valley LLC \| Hotels
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	4,585		4,585				$ 18,116
Total contributions			172	167
Distributions			21,572	0
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	9,064	(779)	7,870	(2,018)
Total maximum exposure to loss	4,585		4,585
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	2,615		2,615				15,782
Total contributions			172	167
Distributions			21,572	0
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	8,942	(636)	8,234	(1,450)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 2,615		$ 2,615
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| New York City SMSA \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	5.20%		5.20%
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| New York City SMSA \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	18.40%		18.40%
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| International
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	49.00%		49.00%
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 1,970		$ 1,970				2,334
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	122	(143)	(364)	(568)
Total maximum exposure to loss	1,970		1,970
New Valley LLC \| Commercial
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	9,475		9,475				8,920
Distributions			138	341
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	463	792	634	755
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 9,475		$ 9,475
New Valley LLC \| Commercial \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	49.00%		49.00%
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 2,121		$ 2,121				1,867
Distributions			9	0
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	384	(121)	263	(388)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 2,121		$ 2,121
New Valley LLC \| Commercial \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	1.60%		1.60%
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 7,354		$ 7,354				7,053
Distributions			129	341
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	79	913	371	1,143
Total maximum exposure to loss	7,354		7,354
New Valley LLC \| Other
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	17,210		17,210				$ 17,670
Total contributions			199	3,643
Distributions			1,697	644
Equity in earnings (losses) from real estate ventures	239	$ 65	1,037	327
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 31,988		$ 31,988
New Valley LLC \| Other \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	15.00%		15.00%
New Valley LLC \| Other \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	50.00%		50.00%
Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from commissions received			$ 11,223	$ 8,145