Notes Payable, Long-Term Debt and Other Obligations (Revolving Credit and Other Narrative) (Details) - USD ($)				12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jan. 14, 2015	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Nov. 18, 2019	Nov. 02, 2018	Jan. 27, 2017	Jan. 31, 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations				$ 1,427,533,000	$ 1,631,387,000
Purchase of subsidiaries				722,000	380,000	$ 10,404,000
Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Required minimum borrowing availability 30 days prior to payment of dividend				$ 5,000,000
Line of Credit | Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity										$ 60,000,000
Eligible trade receivables percent	85.00%
Eligible inventory percent	80.00%
Inventory multiplier percent	65.00%
Appraised liquidation of inventory percent	85.00%
Fair market value of eligible real property percent	60.00%
Interest rate at end of period				2.39%
Minimum EBITDA ratio on trailing 12-month basis if excess availability is less than $20,000			$ 100,000,000
Covenant, excess availability in credit facility threshold			20,000,000
Covenant, capital expenditure requirement, maximum carryover amount	$ 10,000,000		10,000,000
Maximum capital expenditures allowed before maximum carryover amount of $10,000			$ 20,000,000
Amount outstanding				$ 0
Current borrowing capacity				58,635,000
Line of Credit | Liggett | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate			2.25%
Equipment loans | Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations				$ 89,000	$ 347,000
Douglas Elliman
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Liabilities incurred		$ 30,000,000
Voting interest acquired		29.41%				29.41%
Consideration		$ 40,000,000
Purchase of subsidiaries		$ 10,000,000
Term loan under credit facility | Line of Credit | Liggett
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility, maximum borrowing capacity										$ 3,600,000
6.125% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount									$ 850,000,000
Interest rate				6.125%
10.5% Senior Notes due 2026 | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount							$ 230,000,000	$ 325,000,000
Interest rate				10.50%
Notes Payable Issued by New Valley | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notes payable, long-term debt and other obligations				$ 25,000,000
Repaid principal				5,000,000
Remaining principal due in 2021				12,500,000
Remaining principal due in 2022				$ 12,500,000