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New Valley LLC (Investment in Real Estate Ventures) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) venture	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 138,393			$ 141,105
Total contributions	871	$ 533
Distributions from real estate ventures	1,383	3,083
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	1,134	219
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(2,439)	(6,560)
Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Impairment of long-term investments	6,354
New Valley LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	138,393			141,105
Total contributions	871	533
Distributions	2,517	3,302
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(2,439)	(6,560)
Total maximum exposure to loss	170,594
Interest costs capitalized	1,315	2,209
New Valley LLC \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary \| 352 6th Avenue LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership			37.00%
Investments in real estate ventures			$ 500
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 506
New Valley LLC \| Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Number of real estate ventures \| venture	2
VIE's assets	$ 976			1,387
New Valley LLC \| New York City SMSA \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	3.10%
New Valley LLC \| New York City SMSA \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	49.50%
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 95,428			96,399
Total contributions	500	533
Distributions	571	2,868
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(2,214)	(3,967)
Total maximum exposure to loss	112,850
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	63,570			65,007
Total contributions	500	533
Distributions	571	2,868
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(2,106)	(3,462)
Impairment of long-term investments	7,474
Total maximum exposure to loss	68,492
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	31,858			31,392
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(108)	(505)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 44,358
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	15.00%
New Valley LLC \| Condominium and Mixed Use Development \| All other U.S. areas \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	48.50%
New Valley LLC \| Apartment Buildings
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Distributions	$ 0	201
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	0	(1,580)
New Valley LLC \| Apartment Buildings \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Distributions	0	201
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	0	(1,580)
New Valley LLC \| Hotels
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	16,310			18,116
Total contributions	172	0
Distributions	784	0
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(1,194)	(1,239)
Total maximum exposure to loss	16,310
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	14,462			15,782
Total contributions	172	0
Distributions	784	0
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(708)	(814)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 14,462
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| New York City SMSA \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	5.20%
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| New York City SMSA \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	18.40%
New Valley LLC \| Hotels \| International
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	49.00%
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 1,848			2,334
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(486)	(425)
Total maximum exposure to loss	1,848
New Valley LLC \| Commercial
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	9,084			8,920
Distributions	64	215
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	171	(37)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 9,084
New Valley LLC \| Commercial \| New York City SMSA
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	49.00%
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 1,739			1,867
Distributions	6	0
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	(121)	(267)
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 1,739
New Valley LLC \| Commercial \| All other U.S. areas
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	1.60%
Investments in real estate ventures	$ 7,345			7,053
Distributions	58	215
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	292	230
Total maximum exposure to loss	7,345
New Valley LLC \| Other
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Investments in real estate ventures	17,571			$ 17,670
Total contributions	199	0
Distributions	1,098	18
Equity in losses from real estate ventures	798	263
Total maximum exposure to loss	$ 32,350
New Valley LLC \| Other \| Minimum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	15.00%
New Valley LLC \| Other \| Maximum
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Range of ownership	50.00%
Douglas Elliman Realty, LLC
Schedule of Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from commissions received	$ 3,118	$ 3,759