Description of Business	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business Description of the Business Harbinger Group Inc. ("HGI" and, collectively with its respective subsidiaries, the "Company") is a diversified holding company, the outstanding common stock of which is 74.2% owned, collectively, by Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd. (the "Master Fund"), Global Opportunities Breakaway Ltd. and Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P. (together, the "Principal Stockholders"), not giving effect to the conversion rights of the Company's Series A Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock") or the Series A-2 Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series A-2 Preferred Stock", together the "Preferred Stock"). Such common stock ownership by the Principal Stockholders represents a voting interest of 55.6% in relation to the existing voting rights of all HGI’s common and preferred stockholders. HGI’s shares of common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "HRG." HGI is focused on obtaining controlling equity stakes in companies that operate across a diversified set of industries and growing acquired businesses. As such, the Company has gained controlling interests in Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively with its consolidated subsidiaries, where applicable, "Spectrum Brands"), and Fidelity & Guaranty Life Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("FGL") and formed Salus Capital Partners, LLC ("Salus"), Five Island Asset Management, LLC ("Five Island") and HGI Energy Holdings, LLC ("HGI Energy"). As of June 30, 2013, the Company’s beneficial ownership of the outstanding common stock of Spectrum Brands was 59.2%. Spectrum Brands is a global branded consumer products company which trades on the NYSE under the symbol "SPB." FGL, a wholly-owned subsidiary, is a provider of annuity and life insurance products in the United States of America. Salus is a provider of secured asset-based loans to entities across a variety of industries. HGI Energy holds an 74.5% equity investment in an oil and natural gas joint venture with EXCO Resources, Inc. ("EXCO"). In December 2012 and January 2013, the Company closed a secondary offering, in which the Principal Stockholders offered a total of 23.0 million shares of common stock at a price to the public of $7.50 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering. In December 2012, the Company issued $700.0 aggregate principal amount 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the "7.875% Notes") and used part of the proceeds of the offering to accept for purchase $498.0 aggregate principal amount of its 10.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (the "10.625% Notes") pursuant to a tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for the 10.625% Notes. Additionally, the Company deposited sufficient funds in trust with the trustee under the indenture governing the 10.625% Notes in satisfaction and discharge of the remaining $2.0 aggregate principal amount of the 10.625% Notes. The remainder of the proceeds will be used for working capital by the Company and its subsidiaries and for general corporate purposes, including the financing of future acquisitions and businesses. In December 2012, Spectrum Brands acquired the residential hardware and home improvement business (the "HHI Business") from Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. ("Stanley Black & Decker"), (the "Hardware Acquisition"). The HHI Business has a broad portfolio of recognized brand names, including Kwikset, Weiser, Baldwin, National Hardware, Stanley, FANAL and Pfister, as well as patented technologies such as Smartkey, a rekeyable lockset technology, and Smart Code Home Connect. On April 8, 2013, the Company completed the Hardware Acquisition, which included the acquisition of certain assets of Tong Lung Metal Industry Co. Ltd., a Taiwan Corporation ("TLM Taiwan"), which is involved in the production of residential locksets. For information pertaining to the Hardware Acquisition, see Note 3, Acquisitions. Also in December 2012, Spectrum Brands Escrow Corp. issued $520.0 aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020 (the "6.375% Notes") and $570.0 aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2022 (the "6.625% Notes"). The 6.375% Notes and the 6.625% Notes were assumed by Spectrum Brands Inc., in connection with the Hardware Acquisition. Spectrum Brands used the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the purchase price and related fees and expenses for the Hardware Acquisition. Spectrum Brands financed the remaining portion of the Hardware Acquisition with a new $800.0 term loan facility, of which $100.0 is in Canadian dollar equivalents (the "Term Loan"). A portion of the Term Loan proceeds were also used to refinance the former term loan facility, maturing June 17, 2016, which had an aggregate amount outstanding of $370.2 prior to refinancing. Refer to Note 10, Debt, as well as Note 3, Acquisitions, in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Lastly, in December 2012, FGL entered into a coinsurance agreement (the "Reinsurance Agreement") with Front Street Re (Cayman) Ltd. ("Front Street Cayman"), also an indirect subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the Reinsurance Agreement, Front Street Cayman will reinsure approximately 10%, or approximately $1,500.0 of FGL’s policy liabilities, on a funds-withheld basis. In connection with the Reinsurance Agreement, Front Street Cayman, FGL and an indirect subsidiary of the Company, Five Island, also entered into an investment management agreement, pursuant to which Five Island will manage the assets securing Front Street Cayman’s reinsurance obligations under the Reinsurance Agreement, which assets are held by FGL in a segregated account. The assets in the segregated account will be invested in accordance with FGL’s existing guidelines. In February 2013, HGI finalized a joint venture with EXCO to create a private oil and natural gas joint venture(the "EXCO/HGI JV"), through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary HGI Energy. In connection with its formation, the EXCO/HGI JV entered into a credit agreement which had an initial borrowing base of $400.0, maturing on February 14, 2018 (the "EXCO/HGI JV Credit Agreement"). In March 2013, the EXCO/HGI JV acquired all of the shallow Cotton Valley assets from an affiliate of BG Group plc ("BG Group") for $130.9, funded with borrowings from the EXCO/HGI JV Credit Agreement. Also in February 2013, Salus announced the closing of Salus CLO 2012-1, Ltd., a collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") vehicle providing for the issuance of up to $250.0 in collateralized obligations, initially funded with $175.5 of the asset-backed loans that Salus had originated through that date. Refer to Note 6, Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities, in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In March 2013, FGL issued $300.0 aggregate principal amount of its 6.375% senior notes due April 1, 2021, at par value. FGL used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance to pay a dividend to HGI and expects to use the remainder for general corporate purposes, to support the growth of its subsidiary life insurance company. Refer to Note 10, Debt, in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition to acquiring controlling interests, HGI may make investments in debt instruments, acquire minority equity interests in companies and expand its operating businesses. The Company also owns 97.9% of Zap.Com Corporation ("Zap.Com"), a public shell company that may seek assets or businesses to acquire or may sell assets and/or liquidate. The Company’s reportable business segments are organized in a manner that reflects how HGI’s management views those business activities. Accordingly, the Company currently operates its business in four reporting segments: (i) Consumer Products, (ii) Insurance, (iii) Energy, and (iv) Financial Services. For the results of operations by segment, and other segment data, see Note 19, Segment Data.

Description of Business

Description of the Business

Harbinger Group Inc. ("HGI" and, collectively with its respective subsidiaries, the "Company") is a diversified holding company, the outstanding common stock of which is 74.2% owned, collectively, by Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd. (the "Master Fund"), Global Opportunities Breakaway Ltd. and Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P. (together, the "Principal Stockholders"), not giving effect to the conversion rights of the Company's Series A Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series A Preferred Stock") or the Series A-2 Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series A-2 Preferred Stock", together the "Preferred Stock"). Such common stock ownership by the Principal Stockholders represents a voting interest of 55.6% in relation to the existing voting rights of all HGI’s common and preferred stockholders. HGI’s shares of common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "HRG."

HGI is focused on obtaining controlling equity stakes in companies that operate across a diversified set of industries and growing acquired businesses. As such, the Company has gained controlling interests in Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively with its consolidated subsidiaries, where applicable, "Spectrum Brands"), and Fidelity & Guaranty Life Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("FGL") and formed Salus Capital Partners, LLC ("Salus"), Five Island Asset Management, LLC ("Five Island") and HGI Energy Holdings, LLC ("HGI Energy"). As of June 30, 2013, the Company’s beneficial ownership of the outstanding common stock of Spectrum Brands was 59.2%. Spectrum Brands is a global branded consumer products company which trades on the NYSE under the symbol "SPB." FGL, a wholly-owned subsidiary, is a provider of annuity and life insurance products in the United States of America. Salus is a provider of secured asset-based loans to entities across a variety of industries. HGI Energy holds an 74.5% equity investment in an oil and natural gas joint venture with EXCO Resources, Inc. ("EXCO").

In December 2012 and January 2013, the Company closed a secondary offering, in which the Principal Stockholders offered a total of 23.0 million shares of common stock at a price to the public of $7.50 per share. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering.

In December 2012, the Company issued $700.0 aggregate principal amount 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the "7.875% Notes") and used part of the proceeds of the offering to accept for purchase $498.0 aggregate principal amount of its 10.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2015 (the "10.625% Notes") pursuant to a tender offer (the "Tender Offer") for the 10.625% Notes. Additionally, the Company deposited sufficient funds in trust with the trustee under the indenture governing the 10.625% Notes in satisfaction and discharge of the remaining $2.0 aggregate principal amount of the 10.625% Notes. The remainder of the proceeds will be used for working capital by the Company and its subsidiaries and for general corporate purposes, including the financing of future acquisitions and businesses.

In December 2012, Spectrum Brands acquired the residential hardware and home improvement business (the "HHI Business") from Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. ("Stanley Black & Decker"), (the "Hardware Acquisition"). The HHI Business has a broad portfolio of recognized brand names, including Kwikset, Weiser, Baldwin, National Hardware, Stanley, FANAL and Pfister, as well as patented technologies such as Smartkey, a rekeyable lockset technology, and Smart Code Home Connect. On April 8, 2013, the Company completed the Hardware Acquisition, which included the acquisition of certain assets of Tong Lung Metal Industry Co. Ltd., a Taiwan Corporation ("TLM Taiwan"), which is involved in the production of residential locksets. For information pertaining to the Hardware Acquisition, see Note 3, Acquisitions.

Also in December 2012, Spectrum Brands Escrow Corp. issued $520.0 aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2020 (the "6.375% Notes") and $570.0 aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2022 (the "6.625% Notes"). The 6.375% Notes and the 6.625% Notes were assumed by Spectrum Brands Inc., in connection with the Hardware Acquisition. Spectrum Brands used the net proceeds from the offering to fund a portion of the purchase price and related fees and expenses for the Hardware Acquisition. Spectrum Brands financed the remaining portion of the Hardware Acquisition with a new $800.0 term loan facility, of which $100.0 is in Canadian dollar equivalents (the "Term Loan"). A portion of the Term Loan proceeds were also used to refinance the former term loan facility, maturing June 17, 2016, which had an aggregate amount outstanding of $370.2 prior to refinancing. Refer to Note 10, Debt, as well as Note 3, Acquisitions, in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Lastly, in December 2012, FGL entered into a coinsurance agreement (the "Reinsurance Agreement") with Front Street Re (Cayman) Ltd. ("Front Street Cayman"), also an indirect subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the Reinsurance Agreement, Front Street Cayman will reinsure approximately 10%, or approximately $1,500.0 of FGL’s policy liabilities, on a funds-withheld basis. In connection with the Reinsurance Agreement, Front Street Cayman, FGL and an indirect subsidiary of the Company, Five Island, also entered into an investment management agreement, pursuant to which Five Island will manage the assets securing Front Street Cayman’s reinsurance obligations under the Reinsurance Agreement, which assets are held by FGL in a segregated account. The assets in the segregated account will be invested in accordance with FGL’s existing guidelines.

In February 2013, HGI finalized a joint venture with EXCO to create a private oil and natural gas joint venture(the "EXCO/HGI JV"), through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary HGI Energy. In connection with its formation, the EXCO/HGI JV entered into a credit agreement which had an initial borrowing base of $400.0, maturing on February 14, 2018 (the "EXCO/HGI JV Credit Agreement"). In March 2013, the EXCO/HGI JV acquired all of the shallow Cotton Valley assets from an affiliate of BG Group plc ("BG Group") for $130.9, funded with borrowings from the EXCO/HGI JV Credit Agreement.

Also in February 2013, Salus announced the closing of Salus CLO 2012-1, Ltd., a collateralized loan obligation ("CLO") vehicle providing for the issuance of up to $250.0 in collateralized obligations, initially funded with $175.5 of the asset-backed loans that Salus had originated through that date. Refer to Note 6, Securitizations and Variable Interest Entities, in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In March 2013, FGL issued $300.0 aggregate principal amount of its 6.375% senior notes due April 1, 2021, at par value. FGL used a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance to pay a dividend to HGI and expects to use the remainder for general corporate purposes, to support the growth of its subsidiary life insurance company. Refer to Note 10, Debt, in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

In addition to acquiring controlling interests, HGI may make investments in debt instruments, acquire minority equity interests in companies and expand its operating businesses. The Company also owns 97.9% of Zap.Com Corporation ("Zap.Com"), a public shell company that may seek assets or businesses to acquire or may sell assets and/or liquidate.

The Company’s reportable business segments are organized in a manner that reflects how HGI’s management views those business activities. Accordingly, the Company currently operates its business in four reporting segments: (i) Consumer Products, (ii) Insurance, (iii) Energy, and (iv) Financial Services. For the results of operations by segment, and other segment data, see Note 19, Segment Data.