Notes Payable, Long Term Debt and Other Obligations (Textuals) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			3 Months Ended					3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Liggett [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Feb. 29, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Revolving Credit Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Feb. 21, 2012 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Vector [Member] Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Vector [Member] Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures [Member]		Mar. 31, 2012 Wells Fargo Adjusted Eurodollar Rate [Member] Liggett [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Wells Fargo Adjusted Eurodollar Rate [Member] Liggett [Member] Line of Credit [Member] Term Loan Under Credit Facility [Member]	Mar. 31, 2012 Debentures Subject to Mandatory Redemption [Member] Vector [Member] Convertible Debt [Member] Variable Interest 3.875% Senior Convertible Debentures [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Credit facility with Wachovia Bank, N.A.					$ 50,000	$ 50,000
Years Credit Facility Will Automatically Renew For On Anniversary Date				1 year
Days Of Notice Required To Terminate Credit Facility				30 days
Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate															2.00%	1.75%
Minimum Ebitda Ratio On Trailing Twelve Month Basis If Excess Availability Is Less Than 20000 Thousand				100,000
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Excess Availability in Credit Facility Threshold				20,000
Debt Instrument, Covenant, Capital Expenditure Requirement, Maximum Carryover Amount				2,500
Maximum Capital Expenditures Allowed Before Maximum Carryover Amount of 2500 Thousand				15,000
Debt Instrument, Face Amount									5,600
Long-term Debt	524,560	544,200			2		21,472	4,400	4,425	5,689	15,987	[1]	16,052	[1]
Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment								25
Debt Instrument, Total Periodic Payments Over The Term Of the Loan								885
Debt Instrument, Outstanding Principal After Total Future Periodic Payments								3,540
Line of Credit Facility, Amount Outstanding					4,402
Availability as determined under the facility					45,598
Debt Instrument, Convertible, Effective Interest Rate			3.875%
Amount of mandatory redemption of variable interest senior convertible debentures due 2026																	$ 98,998

[1] The fair value of the derivatives embedded within the 6.75% Variable Interest Convertible Note ($16,704 at March 31, 2012 and $16,929 at December 31, 2011, respectively), the 6.75% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Exchange Notes ($31,660 at March 31, 2012 and $32,086 at December 31, 2011, respectively), and the 3.875% Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debentures ($106,191 at March 31, 2012 and $84,485 at December 31, 2011, respectively) is separately classified as a derivative liability in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.