Consolidating Financial Information - Schedule of Income Statement Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Revenues:
Net consumer product sales	$ 1,021,700,000	$ 987,700,000	$ 2,122,300,000	$ 1,858,000,000
Oil and natural gas	39,200,000	16,700,000	74,700,000	16,700,000
Insurance premiums	14,800,000	14,100,000	28,700,000	27,900,000
Net investment income	206,400,000	171,300,000	407,600,000	349,300,000
Net investment gains	40,900,000	206,700,000	182,800,000	353,200,000
Insurance and investment product fees and other	18,200,000	14,600,000	35,100,000	28,300,000
Total revenues	1,341,200,000	1,411,100,000	2,851,200,000	2,633,400,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Consumer products cost of goods sold	662,100,000	664,900,000	1,381,500,000	1,247,000,000
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs	17,100,000	8,800,000	33,200,000	8,800,000
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves	196,500,000	240,900,000	431,200,000	324,500,000
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses	330,900,000	313,500,000	648,000,000	568,100,000
Amortization of intangibles	37,400,000	49,000,000	80,800,000	135,600,000
Total operating costs and expenses	1,325,000,000	1,277,100,000	2,655,700,000	2,284,000,000
Operating income	16,200,000	134,000,000	195,500,000	349,400,000
Interest expense	(77,200,000)	(75,700,000)	(161,200,000)	(218,800,000)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock	(3,500,000)	(39,600,000)	(50,700,000)	29,300,000
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			500,000	0
Other expense, net	(4,600,000)	(3,200,000)	(16,500,000)	(11,900,000)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes	(69,100,000)	15,500,000	(32,400,000)	148,000,000
Income tax (benefit) expense	(13,300,000)	66,000,000	25,000,000	130,400,000
Net income (loss)	(55,800,000)	(50,500,000)	(57,400,000)	17,600,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest	19,700,000	(17,200,000)	44,900,000	(23,200,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	(75,500,000)	(33,300,000)	(102,300,000)	40,800,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion	12,100,000	12,200,000	24,300,000	24,300,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders	(87,600,000)	(45,500,000)	(126,600,000)	16,500,000
Consumer Products Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer product sales			2,122,300,000	1,858,000,000
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums
Net investment income
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues	1,021,700,000	987,700,000	2,122,300,000	1,858,000,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Consumer products cost of goods sold			1,381,500,000	1,247,000,000
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses			482,500,000	453,400,000
Impairment of Proved Oil and Gas Properties
Amortization of intangibles			40,700,000	37,200,000
Total operating costs and expenses			1,904,700,000	1,737,600,000
Operating income	92,500,000	52,200,000	217,600,000	120,400,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries
Interest expense			(104,400,000)
Affiliated interest income				(130,200,000)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			0
Other expense, net			(1,600,000)	(5,300,000)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes			111,600,000	(15,100,000)
Income tax (benefit) expense			23,300,000	39,800,000
Net income (loss)			88,300,000	(54,900,000)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			36,600,000	(23,500,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest			51,700,000	(31,400,000)
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion
Net income (loss) attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders			51,700,000	(31,400,000)
Insurance [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer product sales
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums			28,700,000	27,900,000
Net investment income			400,600,000	336,500,000
Net investment gains			182,800,000	353,200,000
Insurance and investment product fees and other			35,100,000	28,300,000
Total revenues	274,100,000	402,300,000	647,200,000	745,900,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Consumer products cost of goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves			431,200,000	324,500,000
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses			64,300,000	51,400,000
Impairment of Proved Oil and Gas Properties
Amortization of intangibles			40,100,000	98,400,000
Total operating costs and expenses			535,600,000	474,300,000
Operating income	26,300,000	108,000,000	111,600,000	271,600,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries			(3,800,000)	2,500,000
Interest expense			(11,300,000)
Affiliated interest income			200,000
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			0
Other expense, net				300,000
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes			96,700,000	274,400,000
Income tax (benefit) expense			400,000	90,600,000
Net income (loss)			96,300,000	183,800,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			8,600,000
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest			87,700,000	183,800,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion
Net income (loss) attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders			87,700,000	183,800,000
Energy Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer product sales
Oil and natural gas			74,700,000	16,700,000
Insurance premiums
Net investment income
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues	39,200,000	16,700,000	74,700,000	16,700,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Consumer products cost of goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs			33,200,000	8,800,000
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses			26,300,000	7,400,000
Impairment of Proved Oil and Gas Properties			81,000,000
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses			140,500,000	16,200,000
Operating income	(71,800,000)	500,000	(65,800,000)	500,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries				(1,100,000)
Interest expense			(4,100,000)
Affiliated interest income			(4,500,000)	(900,000)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			0
Other expense, net			(10,200,000)	(8,900,000)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes			(84,600,000)	(10,400,000)
Income tax (benefit) expense
Net income (loss)			(84,600,000)	(10,400,000)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest			(84,600,000)	(10,400,000)
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion
Net income (loss) attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders			(84,600,000)	(10,400,000)
Other Financial Services [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer product sales
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums
Net investment income			14,300,000	13,700,000
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues	9,800,000	5,300,000	14,300,000	13,700,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Consumer products cost of goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses			14,200,000	5,900,000
Impairment of Proved Oil and Gas Properties
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses			14,200,000	5,900,000
Operating income	4,000,000	2,700,000	100,000	7,800,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries				(1,400,000)
Interest expense
Affiliated interest income			(3,000,000)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			0
Other expense, net			(1,300,000)	(100,000)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes			(4,200,000)	6,300,000
Income tax (benefit) expense			(100,000)
Net income (loss)			(4,100,000)	6,300,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			(300,000)	300,000
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest			(3,800,000)	6,000,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion
Net income (loss) attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders			(3,800,000)	6,000,000
Corporate and Other [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer product sales
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums
Net investment income
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues
Operating costs and expenses:
Consumer products cost of goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses			60,300,000	50,900,000
Impairment of Proved Oil and Gas Properties
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses			60,300,000	50,900,000
Operating income	(30,800,000)	(29,400,000)	(60,300,000)	(50,900,000)
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries			48,200,000
Interest expense			(41,400,000)	148,000,000
Affiliated interest income				(87,700,000)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock			(50,700,000)	29,300,000
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			500,000
Other expense, net			1,400,000	2,100,000
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes			(102,300,000)	40,800,000
Income tax (benefit) expense
Net income (loss)			(102,300,000)	40,800,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest			(102,300,000)	40,800,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion			24,300,000	24,300,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders			(126,600,000)	16,500,000
Intersegment elimination [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer product sales
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums
Net investment income			(7,300,000)	(900,000)
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues	(3,600,000)	(900,000)	(7,300,000)	(900,000)
Operating costs and expenses:
Consumer products cost of goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses			400,000	(900,000)
Impairment of Proved Oil and Gas Properties
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses			400,000	(900,000)
Operating income	(4,000,000)		(7,700,000)	0
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries			(44,400,000)
Interest expense				(148,000,000)
Affiliated interest income			7,300,000
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			0
Other expense, net			(4,800,000)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes			(49,600,000)	(148,000,000)
Income tax (benefit) expense			1,400,000
Net income (loss)			(51,000,000)	(148,000,000)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest			(51,000,000)	(148,000,000)
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion
Net income (loss) attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders			(51,000,000)	(148,000,000)
Consolidated Entities [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer product sales			2,122,300,000	1,858,000,000
Oil and natural gas			74,700,000	16,700,000
Insurance premiums			28,700,000	27,900,000
Net investment income			407,600,000	349,300,000
Net investment gains			182,800,000	353,200,000
Insurance and investment product fees and other			35,100,000	28,300,000
Total revenues			2,851,200,000	2,633,400,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Consumer products cost of goods sold			1,381,500,000	1,247,000,000
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs			33,200,000	8,800,000
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves			431,200,000	324,500,000
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses			648,000,000	568,100,000
Impairment of Proved Oil and Gas Properties			81,000,000
Amortization of intangibles			80,800,000	135,600,000
Total operating costs and expenses			2,655,700,000	2,284,000,000
Operating income			195,500,000	349,400,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries
Interest expense			(161,200,000)
Affiliated interest income				(218,800,000)
(Loss) gain from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock			(50,700,000)	29,300,000
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction			500,000
Other expense, net			(16,500,000)	(11,900,000)
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes			(32,400,000)	148,000,000
Income tax (benefit) expense			25,000,000	130,400,000
Net income (loss)			(57,400,000)	17,600,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest			44,900,000	(23,200,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest			(102,300,000)	40,800,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends and accretion			24,300,000	24,300,000
Net income (loss) attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders			$ (126,600,000)	$ 16,500,000