Notes Payable, Long-Term Debt and Other Obligations (Fair Value of Notes Payable and Long Term Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable and long-term debt	$ 1,364,906	$ 1,565,459
Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable and long-term debt	1,451,483	1,666,445
Senior Notes
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable and long-term debt	1,060,943	1,034,500
Senior Notes | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable and long-term debt	1,175,000	1,175,000
Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable and long-term debt	235,190	468,704
Variable Interest Senior Convertible Debt | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable and long-term debt	207,700	429,176
Liggett and other
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable and long-term debt	68,773	62,255
Liggett and other | Carrying Value
Fair Value, Balance Sheet Grouping, Financial Statement Captions [Line Items]
Notes payable and long-term debt	$ 68,783	$ 62,269