Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (Details) Investment in Subsidiary or Unconsolidated Afflilate	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 Agribusiness Operations	Dec. 31, 2013 Mindjet	Dec. 31, 2012 Northstar	Dec. 31, 2013 UCP	Dec. 31, 2013 Spigit
Subsidiary or Equity Method Investee [Line Items]
Subsidiary ownership percent controlled by parent	57.70%				57.70%
PICO's ownership percentage				88.00%
Ownership threshold to qualify for equity method accounting treatment, minimum	20.00%
Ownership threshold to qualify for equity method accounting treatment, maximum	50.00%
Ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners		12.00%				73.00%
Voting interest Percentage			28.80%
Voting ownership percentage of noncontrolling interest					42.25%