New Valley LLC (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended							3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended																				3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended									3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended													0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member]	Dec. 13, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 New Valley LLC [Member] Douglas Elliman Realty LLC [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Land Development [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Land Development [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Milanosesto Holdings (f/k/a Sesto Holdings) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Milanosesto Holdings (f/k/a Sesto Holdings) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member] Minimum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Condominium and Mixed Use Development [Member] Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 10 Madison Square Park West (f/k/a 1107 Broadway) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 10 Madison Square Park West (f/k/a 1107 Broadway) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] The Whitman [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] The Whitman [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] The Marquand [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] The Marquand [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] The Marquand [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Eleven Beach Street [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Eleven Beach Street [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 20 Times Square (f/k/a 701 Seventh Avenue) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 20 Times Square (f/k/a 701 Seventh Avenue) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 101 Murray Street [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 101 Murray Street [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 160 Leroy Street [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 160 Leroy Street [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] PUBLIC Chrystie House (f/k/a Chrystie Street) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] PUBLIC Chrystie House (f/k/a Chrystie Street) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 25-19 43rd Avenue [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 25-19 43rd Avenue [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Queens Plaza (f/k/a 23-10 Queens Plaza South) [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Queens Plaza (f/k/a 23-10 Queens Plaza South) [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 8701 Collins Avenue [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 8701 Collins Avenue [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] 125 Greenwich Street [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] 125 Greenwich Street [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member] Minimum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Apartment Buildings [Member] Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Maryland Portfolio [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Maryland Portfolio [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] ST Portfolio [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] ST Portfolio [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member] Minimum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotels [Member] Maximum [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Park Lane Hotel [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Park Lane Hotel [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotel Taiwana [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Hotel Taiwana [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Coral Beach and Tennis Club [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Coral Beach and Tennis Club [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Other Investments [Member]	Dec. 31, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Other Investments [Member]	May 12, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Indian Creek [Member]	Sep. 30, 2014 New Valley LLC [Member] Indian Creek [Member]	Sep. 30, 2013 New Valley LLC [Member] Indian Creek [Member]
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Ownership percentage														50.00%										5.00%	49.50%																															7.50%	16.40%									5.00%	49.00%											80.00%
Percent of acquired interest in affiliate								20.59%
Ownership Percentage in Affiliate													70.59%
Goodwill adjustment										$ (454)
Current liabilities adjustment									16,434	(105)
Intangible assets adjustment										559
Investments in subsidiaries			0	0				60,000
Equity income from real estate ventures	3,258	9,489	3,002	16,774							9,075	16,513							5,090	526	7,389	656				2,254					5,000																				(87)	(111)	(251)	(394)								(2,053)	(4,224)
Percent of units sold																														40.00%
Distributions from non-consolidated real estate businesses			(5,540)	(2,463)								(2,961)									(7,791)	(2,593)																															(375)	(250)																						(7,100)
Investments in real estate ventures	154,281		154,281		128,202	154,281	128,202								5,037	5,037	5,037	5,037	100,786		100,786		71,358			6,384	6,579	526	1,165	12,000	12,000	7,000	12,328	11,160	12,481	11,148	25,269	19,256	1,353	1,150	3,180	2,048	733	0	12,590	8,058	4,634	3,794	9,308	0	18,856		18,856		19,482			3,348	3,498	15,508	15,984	27,655	27,655	29,906				18,097	19,514	6,850	7,428	2,708	2,964	1,947	2,419			7,616
Long-term investments accounted for under the equity method	13,977		13,977		8,595														27,154	23,984	27,154	23,984																																								1,973	1,973		21,992
Maximum exposure to loss as a result of this investment																			100,786		100,786																														18,856		18,856									27,655	27,655
Proceeds from sale of equity method investments																																																																												14,400
Operating income (loss)	$ 62,984	$ (37,285)	$ 166,014	$ 50,051																																																																									$ 2,400