Description of Business, Basis of Presentation and Recent Accounting Pronouncements - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																0 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013 Segment	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013 FGL [Member] 6.375% Senior Notes, Due April 1, 2021 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 FGL [Member] 6.375% Senior Notes, Due April 1, 2021 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] Term Loan Due September 4, 2017 [Member]	Dec. 18, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] Term Loan Due September 4, 2017 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] Term Loan Due September 4, 2017 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] Six Point Three Seven Five Senior Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] Six Point Three Seven Five Senior Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] 6.625% Notes [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] 6.625% Notes [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] Term Loan Due December 17, 2019 [Member]	Dec. 18, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] Term Loan Due December 17, 2019 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Spectrum Brands [Member] Term Loan Due December 17, 2019 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Zap Com Corporation [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Fgl Reinsurance Agreement With Fsr [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 HGI [Member] 7.875% Senior Secured Notes, due July 15, 2019 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 HGI [Member] 7.875% Senior Secured Notes, due July 15, 2019 [Member]	Dec. 13, 2013 FGL [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 Euro Member Countries, Euro Spectrum Brands [Member] Euro Term Loan, Due September 4, 2019 [Member]	Dec. 18, 2013 Euro Member Countries, Euro Spectrum Brands [Member] Euro Term Loan, Due September 4, 2019 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 Euro Member Countries, Euro Spectrum Brands [Member] Euro Term Loan, Due September 4, 2019 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Percentage of common stock outstanding collectively held by principal stockholders	55.40%	55.40%
Voting interest	41.60%	41.60%
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Long-term debt, interest rate				6.40%	0.00%	3.60%		3.60%	6.40%	6.40%	6.60%	6.60%	0.00%		4.60%			7.90%	0.00%		3.80%		0.00%
Long-term debt	$ 5,175.4	$ 5,175.4	$ 4,909.7	$ 300.0	$ 300.0	$ 515.0	$ 215.0	$ 300.0	$ 520.0	$ 520.0	$ 570.0	$ 570.0	$ 0	$ 513.3	$ 513.3			$ 925.0	$ 925.0		$ 308.0	$ 225.0	$ 0
Reinsurance arrangment in percentage																	10.00%
Payments for reinsurance																	1,400.0
Asset-based loans	$ 794.0	$ 794.0	$ 560.4
Percentage of ownership interest acquired																97.90%				80.70%
Shares Offered To Public In Initial Offering																				9,750
Sale of Stock, Price Per Share																				$ 17
Shares Offered To Underwriters In Initial Offering																				1,463
Investment Owned, Balance, Shares																				47,000
Number of reporting segments	4	4