CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME OR LOSS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues and other income:
Sale of real estate and water assets	$ 26,388	$ 633	$ 3,856
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated affiliate		(2,170)	(20,696)
Other income, net	9,888	9,471	4,472
Total revenues and other income (loss)	36,276	7,934	(12,368)
Cost of sales and expenses:
Cost of water assets and real estate sold	13,216	326	1,239
General, administrative, and other	12,414	32,830	20,028
Impairment loss on intangible and long-lived assets		201	2,085
Depreciation and amortization	305	865	1,660
Total costs and expenses	25,935	34,222	25,012
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates	10,341	(26,288)	(37,380)
Benefit (provision) for federal and state income taxes	(3,082)	1,135	2,961
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate			(3,422)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	7,259	(25,153)	(37,841)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	3,053	13,899	(24,309)
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	(8,698)	(1,775)	(18,729)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(5,645)	12,124	(43,038)
Net income (loss)	1,614	(13,029)	(80,879)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,150)	(8,836)	(979)
Net income (loss) attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	464	(21,865)	(81,858)
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax:
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(6,193)	1,671	292
Foreign currency translation	76	29	(48)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(6,117)	1,700	244
Comprehensive loss	(4,503)	(11,329)	(80,635)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,150)	(8,836)	(979)
Comprehensive loss attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ (5,653)	$ (20,165)	$ (81,614)
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	$ (1.09)	$ (1.64)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	(0.29)	0.14	(1.92)
Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	$ (0.95)	$ (3.56)
Weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	23,122	23,054	23,014