Description of Business	9 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Description of Business	Description of Business Harbinger Group Inc. ("HGI" and, collectively with its respective subsidiaries, the "Company") is a diversified holding company. HGI is focused on obtaining controlling equity stakes in companies that operate across a diversified set of industries and growing acquired businesses. In addition to acquiring controlling interests, HGI may make investments in debt instruments, acquire minority equity interests in companies and expand its operating businesses. HGI’s shares of common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "HRG". In December 2013, Fidelity & Guaranty Life ("FGL"), a then wholly-owned subsidiary of HGI, announced an initial public offering of 9,750 thousand shares of common stock at a price to the public of $17.00 per share. The shares began trading on the NYSE on December 13, 2013 under the ticker symbol "FGL". FGL also granted the underwriters an option to purchase an additional 1,463 thousand shares of common stock that was subsequently exercised. HGI was not a selling shareholder in the offering. Subsequent to the offering HGI held 47,000 thousand shares of FGL's outstanding common stock, representing an 80.4% interest as of June 30, 2014. Also in December 2013, Front Street Re (Cayman) Ltd. ("Front Street Cayman"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HGI, closed a reinsurance treaty with Bankers Life Insurance Company. Under the terms of the treaty, Bankers Life Insurance Company ceded approximately $153.0 of its annuity business to Front Street Cayman on a funds withheld basis. Furthermore in December 2013, HGI's subsidiary Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Spectrum Brands"), amended a senior secured term loan, issuing two tranches maturing September 4, 2019 which provide for borrowings in aggregate principal amounts of $215.0 and €225.0. The proceeds from the amendment were used to refinance a portion of the term loan which was scheduled to mature December 17, 2019 and had an aggregate amount outstanding of $513.3 prior to refinancing. In January 2014, Spectrum Brands completed the $35.8 acquisition of The Liquid Fence Company, Inc. ("Liquid Fence"), a producer of animal repellents. See Note 3, Acquisitions. Also in January 2014, HGI issued $200.0 aggregate principal amount of 7.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 at par (the "7.75% Notes"). See Note 8, Debt. In May 2014, HGI exercised its option to convert all but one of its issued and outstanding shares of Series A Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Shares") and all of its outstanding Series A-2 Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A-2 Preferred Shares", together with the Series A Preferred Shares, the "Preferred Stock") into common stock of the Company, par value $0.01. Upon the conversion, holders of the Series A Preferred Shares received approximately 160.95 shares of common stock per Series A Preferred Share converted and holders of Series A-2 Preferred Share received approximately 148.11 shares of common stock per Series A-2 Preferred Share converted. Upon converting the outstanding preferred stock, the Company recognized a loss of $43.9, representing the difference between the fair value of the common stock issued on the conversion date and the aggregate recorded value of the preferred stock and the fair value of the equity conversion option as of the conversion date. The remaining Series A Preferred Shares will not be entitled to receive any dividends or distributions, and remains to preserve certain governance rights as set forth in the certificate of designation. Also in May 2014, HGI exchanged $320.6 of its outstanding 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Senior Secured Notes”) for $350.0 aggregate principal amount of new 7.750% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Additional 7.75% Notes”). Following settlement, HGI had $604.4 in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes outstanding and $550.0 in aggregate principal amount of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2022 outstanding. See Note 8, Debt. In addition, in May 2014, HGI Funding, LLC ("HGI Funding"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HGI completed the $13.5 acquisition of Frederick's of Hollywood Group Inc. ("FOH"), a retailer of women's apparel and related products. See Note 3, Acquisitions. In June 2014, HGI purchased 1.0 million shares at a price of $12.10 per share, for an aggregate $12.1 under the $100.0 repurchase program authorized by HGI's Board of Directors earlier in the year. 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) Asset Management. For the results of operations by segment, and other segment data, see Note 16, Segment Data.

Description of Business

Harbinger Group Inc. ("HGI" and, collectively with its respective subsidiaries, the "Company") is a diversified holding company. HGI is focused on obtaining controlling equity stakes in companies that operate across a diversified set of industries and growing acquired businesses. In addition to acquiring controlling interests, HGI may make investments in debt instruments, acquire minority equity interests in companies and expand its operating businesses. HGI’s shares of common stock trade on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "HRG".

In December 2013, Fidelity & Guaranty Life ("FGL"), a then wholly-owned subsidiary of HGI, announced an initial public offering of 9,750 thousand shares of common stock at a price to the public of $17.00 per share. The shares began trading on the NYSE on December 13, 2013 under the ticker symbol "FGL". FGL also granted the underwriters an option to purchase an additional 1,463 thousand shares of common stock that was subsequently exercised. HGI was not a selling shareholder in the offering. Subsequent to the offering HGI held 47,000 thousand shares of FGL's outstanding common stock, representing an 80.4% interest as of June 30, 2014.

Also in December 2013, Front Street Re (Cayman) Ltd. ("Front Street Cayman"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HGI, closed a reinsurance treaty with Bankers Life Insurance Company. Under the terms of the treaty, Bankers Life Insurance Company ceded approximately $153.0 of its annuity business to Front Street Cayman on a funds withheld basis.

Furthermore in December 2013, HGI's subsidiary Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Spectrum Brands"), amended a senior secured term loan, issuing two tranches maturing September 4, 2019 which provide for borrowings in aggregate principal amounts of $215.0 and €225.0. The proceeds from the amendment were used to refinance a portion of the term loan which was scheduled to mature December 17, 2019 and had an aggregate amount outstanding of $513.3 prior to refinancing.

In January 2014, Spectrum Brands completed the $35.8 acquisition of The Liquid Fence Company, Inc. ("Liquid Fence"), a producer of animal repellents. See Note 3, Acquisitions.

Also in January 2014, HGI issued $200.0 aggregate principal amount of 7.75% senior unsecured notes due 2022 at par (the "7.75% Notes"). See Note 8, Debt.

In May 2014, HGI exercised its option to convert all but one of its issued and outstanding shares of Series A Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A Preferred Shares") and all of its outstanding Series A-2 Participating Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series A-2 Preferred Shares", together with the Series A Preferred Shares, the "Preferred Stock") into common stock of the Company, par value $0.01. Upon the conversion, holders of the Series A Preferred Shares received approximately 160.95 shares of common stock per Series A Preferred Share converted and holders of Series A-2 Preferred Share received approximately 148.11 shares of common stock per Series A-2 Preferred Share converted. Upon converting the outstanding preferred stock, the Company recognized a loss of $43.9, representing the difference between the fair value of the common stock issued on the conversion date and the aggregate recorded value of the preferred stock and the fair value of the equity conversion option as of the conversion date. The remaining Series A Preferred Shares will not be entitled to receive any dividends or distributions, and remains to preserve certain governance rights as set forth in the certificate of designation.

Also in May 2014, HGI exchanged $320.6 of its outstanding 7.875% Senior Secured Notes due 2019 (the “Senior Secured Notes”) for $350.0 aggregate principal amount of new 7.750% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “Additional 7.75% Notes”). Following settlement, HGI had $604.4 in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Secured Notes outstanding and $550.0 in aggregate principal amount of 7.750% Senior Notes due 2022 outstanding. See Note 8, Debt.

In addition, in May 2014, HGI Funding, LLC ("HGI Funding"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of HGI completed the $13.5 acquisition of Frederick's of Hollywood Group Inc. ("FOH"), a retailer of women's apparel and related products. See Note 3, Acquisitions.

In June 2014, HGI purchased 1.0 million shares at a price of $12.10 per share, for an aggregate $12.1 under the $100.0 repurchase program authorized by HGI's Board of Directors earlier in the year.

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) Asset Management. For the results of operations by segment, and other segment data, see Note 16, Segment Data.