CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME OR LOSS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues and other income:
Sale of real estate and water assets	$ 355,001	$ 282,681	$ 192,368
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated affiliate	(2,170)	(20,696)	(1,078)
Other income, net	9,747	4,678	1,198
Total revenues and other income	362,578	266,663	192,488
Cost of sales and expenses:
Cost of real estate and water assets sold	290,738	227,715	158,200
General, administrative, and other	61,537	45,780	51,457
Sales and marketing	19,798	18,824	13,662
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets	7,012	3,282	13,084
Depreciation and amortization	1,496	2,212	3,054
Total costs and expenses	380,581	297,813	239,457
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates	(18,003)	(31,150)	(46,969)
Benefit for federal and state income taxes	6,351	2,961	3,514
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate		(3,422)	(2,076)
Loss from continuing operations	(11,652)	(31,611)	(45,531)
Income (loss) from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	479	(30,539)	(14,074)
Loss on sale of discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(1,856)	(18,729)
Net loss from discontinued agribusiness operations, net of tax	(1,377)	(49,268)	(14,074)
Net loss	(13,029)	(80,879)	(59,605)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,836)	(979)	7,180
Net loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	(21,865)	(81,858)	(52,425)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	1,671	292	(2,093)
Foreign currency translation	29	(48)	6,578
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	1,700	244	4,485
Comprehensive loss	(11,329)	(80,635)	(55,120)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(8,836)	(979)	7,180
Comprehensive loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ (20,165)	$ (81,614)	$ (47,940)
Net loss per common share – basic and diluted:
Loss from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ (0.89)	$ (1.49)	$ (1.76)
Loss from discontinued operations (USD per share)	(0.06)	(2.07)	(0.54)
Net loss per common share - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.95)	$ (3.56)	$ (2.30)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	23,054	23,014	22,802