Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Investments (Note 5 and 6):
Total assets	$ 23,579,554	$ 4,016,195
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total liabilities	21,921,242	2,838,368
Commitments and contingencies (Note 19)
Temporary equity (Note 13):
Redeemable preferred stock, $.01 par, 10,000 preferred shares authorized; 400 shares outstanding with an aggregate liquidation preference of $607,583 at September 30, 2011	292,437	0
Harbinger Group Inc. stockholders' equity (Note 14):
Common stock, $.01 par, 500,000 shares authorized; 139,346 shares and 139,197 retrospectively adjusted shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively	1,393	1,392
Additional paid-in capital	872,683	855,767
Accumulated deficit	(135,347)	(150,309)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	149,448	(5,195)
Total Harbinger Group Inc. stockholders' equity	888,177	701,655
Noncontrolling interest	477,698	476,172
Total permanent equity	1,365,875	1,177,827
Total liabilities and equity	23,579,554	4,016,195
Consumer Products and Other:
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	321,352	256,831
Short-term investments (Note 5)	350,638	53,965
Receivables, net (Note 4)	394,283	406,447
Inventories, net (Note 8)	434,630	530,342
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (Note 17)	143,654	94,078
Total current assets	1,644,557	1,341,663
Properties, net (Note 9)	206,799	201,309
Goodwill (Note 10)	610,338	600,055
Intangibles, net (Note 10)	1,683,909	1,769,360
Deferred charges and other assets (Note 12)	97,324	103,808
Total assets Consumer Products and Other	4,242,927	4,016,195
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current portion of long-term debt (Note 12)	16,090	20,710
Accounts payable	328,635	333,683
Accrued and other current liabilities (Note 11)	317,629	313,617
Total current liabilities	662,354	668,010
Long-term debt (Note 12)	2,032,690	1,723,057
Equity conversion feature of preferred stock (Note 6 and 13)	75,350	0
Employee benefit obligations (Note 15)	89,857	97,946
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 17)	338,679	277,843
Other Liabilities	44,957	71,512
Total liabilities Consumer Products and Other	3,243,887	2,838,368
Insurance:
Investments (Note 5 and 6):
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value	15,367,474	0
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value	287,043	0
Derivative investments	52,335	0
Other invested assets	44,279	0
Total investments	15,751,131	0
Cash and cash equivalents	816,007	0
Accrued investment income	212,848	0
Reinsurance recoverable (Note 20)	1,596,790	0
Intangibles, net (Note 10)	457,167	0
Deferred tax assets (Note 17)	211,641	0
Other assets	291,043	0
Total assets Insurance	19,336,627	0
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Contractholder funds (Note 5)	14,549,970	0
Future policy benefits (Note 2)	3,598,208	0
Liability for policy and contract claims	56,650	0
Note payable (Note 12)	95,000	0
Other liabilities (Note 11)	377,527	0
Total liabilities Insurance	$ 18,677,355	$ 0