Business Combinations and Subsequent Deconsolidation of Spigit (Details) Deconsolidation of Spigit (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate	$ 89,000			$ 89,000
Carrying Value	76,627,000			76,627,000			50,524,000
Gain on deconsolidation				21,181,000	[1]
Mindjet
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Voting interest Percentage	28.80%			28.80%
Ownership percent, equity method	15.20%			15.20%
Cost method ownership percentage	13.60%			13.60%
Number of seats on the board of directors	1			1
Total number of individuals on board of directors	6			6
Equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliate	89,000
Carrying Value	26,383,000			26,383,000
Equity Method and Cost Method Investments	28,679,000	[1]		28,679,000	[1]
Preferred Stock | Mindjet
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Share conversion ratio	1.5			1.5
Dividend rate				6.00%
Votes per share	1.5			1.5
Liquidation preference	6,961,775			6,961,775
Restricted Stock | Mindjet
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Stock-based compensation expense				$ 2,200,000

[1] The Company had a non-recurring fair value measurement as a result of the merger transaction between Spigit and Mindjet. The transaction resulted in the deconsolidation of Spigit, and the recording of the Company’s common and preferred stock investment in Mindjet at fair value, on the date of the transaction. The transaction resulted in a gain of approximately $21.2 million before income taxes. The fair value of the investment in Mindjet was based on analysis of the financial and operational aspects of the company, including consideration of a discounted cash flow analysis which incorporated a contemporary forecast of the merged Mindjet/Spigit entity going forward. Also considered was a guideline public company analysis which compared business enterprise value-to-revenue ratios for comparable public companies to current revenue metrics for the company. Determination of the business enterprise value based on the foregoing was then considered in an analysis of the distribution of equity value to the various classes of equity held by PICO in order to reflect differences in value due to differing liquidation, dividend and voting rights. The fair value approach relied primarily on Level 3 unobservable inputs, whereby expected future cash flows are discounted using a rate that includes assumptions regarding an entity’s average cost of debt and equity, incorporates expected future cash flows based on internal business plans, and applies certain assumptions about risk and uncertainties. The estimates are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which by nature are uncertain and unpredictable. See Note 8, Business Combinations, for additional information.