New Valley LLC (Investment in Real Estate Ventures) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) venture	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) venture	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) venture	Dec. 31, 2018
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 115,377		$ 115,377		$ 131,556
Contributions to real estate ventures			3,858	$ 21,908
Distributions from real estate ventures, distributions of earnings			1,855		2,060
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures			5,172	23,200
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(12,260)	$ 6,391	(18,765)	3,952
Other current liabilities	332,034		332,034		189,317
Identifiable assets	1,531,747		1,531,747		1,505,089
New Valley LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	115,377		115,377		131,556
Contributions to real estate ventures			3,858	21,908
Distributions from real estate ventures			7,027	25,260
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(12,260)	6,391	(18,765)	3,952
Total maximum exposure to loss	129,024		129,024
Interest costs capitalized	$ 1,004	1,688	$ 2,257		3,003
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	$ 90,023		$ 90,023		106,920
Contributions to real estate ventures			3,330	21,537
Distributions from real estate ventures			6,949	1,850
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(11,593)	(3,378)	(17,739)	(5,592)
Total maximum exposure to loss	90,023		90,023
New Valley LLC | Condominium and Mixed Use Development | New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	42,851		42,851		51,078
Contributions to real estate ventures			1,169	21,537
Distributions from real estate ventures			1,735	571
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(5,104)	(1,120)	(8,451)	(3,226)
Impairment of long-term investments	3,784	3,866	3,784	3,866
Total maximum exposure to loss	42,851		42,851
New Valley LLC | Condominium and Mixed Use Development | All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	47,172		47,172		55,842
Contributions to real estate ventures			2,161	0
Distributions from real estate ventures			5,214	1,279
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(6,489)	(2,258)	(9,288)	(2,366)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 47,172		$ 47,172
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	77.80%		77.80%
New Valley LLC | Apartment Buildings
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Contributions to real estate ventures			$ 76	0
Distributions from real estate ventures			0	3
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	$ (76)	3	(76)	3
New Valley LLC | Apartment Buildings | All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Contributions to real estate ventures			76	0
Distributions from real estate ventures			0	3
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(76)	3	(76)	3
New Valley LLC | Hotels
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	4,717		4,717		4,623
Contributions to real estate ventures			0	172
Distributions from real estate ventures			0	21,572
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(632)	9,064	(1,200)	7,870
Total maximum exposure to loss	4,717		4,717
New Valley LLC | Hotels | New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	3,107		3,107		2,462
Contributions to real estate ventures			0	172
Distributions from real estate ventures			0	21,572
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(542)	8,942	(649)	8,234
Other current liabilities	2,498		2,498
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 3,107		$ 3,107
New Valley LLC | Hotels | New York City SMSA | Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	1.00%		1.00%
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	$ 1,610		$ 1,610		2,161
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(90)	122	(551)	(364)
Total maximum exposure to loss	1,610		1,610
New Valley LLC | Commercial
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	9,643		9,643		9,486
Distributions from real estate ventures			55	138
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	37	463	212	634
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 9,643		$ 9,643
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	$ 2,076		$ 2,076		1,852
Distributions from real estate ventures			3	9
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	301	384	227	263
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 2,076		$ 2,076
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	$ 7,567		$ 7,567		7,634
Distributions from real estate ventures			52	129
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	(264)	79	(15)	371
Total maximum exposure to loss	7,567		7,567
New Valley LLC | Other
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	10,994		10,994		10,527
Contributions to real estate ventures			452	199
Distributions from real estate ventures			23	1,697
Equity in (losses) earnings from real estate ventures	4	$ 239	38	1,037
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 24,641		$ 24,641
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	49.00%		49.00%
Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from commissions received			$ 7,698		$ 11,223
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Distributions from real estate ventures, distributions of earnings				$ 20,788
Sale of ownership interest in real estate				80.00%
Recognized equity in earnings from sale				$ 10,328
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary | New Valley LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership		1.00%		1.00%		5.20%
Number of real estate ventures | venture	2		2		2
Identifiable assets	$ 0		$ 0		$ 897