CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Non-controlling Interest
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 570,724	$ 27	$ 542,072	$ 88,830	$ 15,327	$ (78,152)	$ 2,620
Beginning balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2010						4,417,000
Beginning balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010		27,117,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interest	490						490
Stock-based compensation expense, value	4,536		4,536
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares		5,000
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss	(49,802)			(54,542)			4,740
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(15,427)				(15,427)
Accumulated currency, net of tax	(859)				(859)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	509,662	27	546,608	34,288	(959)	(78,152)	7,850
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		27,122,000
Beginning balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2011						4,417,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock-based compensation expense, value	3,873		3,873
Exercise of restricted stock units , shares		94,000
Exercise of restricted stock units, value	(1,687)		(1,020)			(667)
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares
Exercise of restricted stock units, treasury shares						30,000
Retirement of PICO common stock, value		(1)	(22,870)			22,871
Retirement of PICO common stock, shares		(1,409,000)				(1,409,000)
Shares purchased for deferred compensation accounts, value	(645)					(645)
Shares purchased for deferred compensation accounts, shares						35,000
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss	(31,652)			(29,073)			(2,579)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(226)				(226)
Accumulated currency, net of tax	(829)				(829)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	478,496	26	526,591	5,215	(2,014)	(56,593)	5,271
Ending balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2012	3,073,000					3,073,000
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012	22,734,000	25,807,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interest	107,320		14,985				92,335
Stock-based compensation expense, value	5,977		4,731				1,246
Exercise of restricted stock units, shares		14,000
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss	(29,194)			(22,298)			(6,896)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	2,411				2,411
Accumulated currency, net of tax	(165)				(165)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 564,845	$ 26	$ 546,307	$ (17,083)	$ 232	$ (56,593)	$ 91,956
Ending balance, treasury shares at Dec. 31, 2013	3,073,000					3,073,000
Ending balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	22,747,000	25,821,000