Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income or Loss - Unaudited - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues and other income:
Sale of real estate and water assets	$ 43	$ 33	$ 25,140	$ 130
Other income, net	8,591	817	9,687	1,504
Total revenues and other income	8,634	850	34,827	1,634
Cost of sales and expenses:
Cost of real estate and water assets sold	17	19	12,549	64
General, administrative, and other	2,832	5,321	6,922	10,404
Depreciation and amortization	36	181	134	540
Total cost of sales and expenses	2,885	5,521	19,605	11,008
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	5,749	(4,671)	15,222	(9,374)
Benefit (provision) for federal and state income taxes	(2,946)	271	(3,126)	182
Income (loss) from continuing operations	2,803	(4,400)	12,096	(9,192)
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	4,434	1,688	8,322	1,484
Loss on sale or impairment loss on classification of assets as held-for-sale, net of tax	(4,257)	(10)	(11,403)	(1,859)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	177	1,678	(3,081)	(375)
Net income (loss)	2,980	(2,722)	9,015	(9,567)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,405)	(675)	(2,796)	(634)
Net income (loss) attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	1,575	(3,397)	6,219	(10,201)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net income (loss)	2,980	(2,722)	9,015	(9,567)
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities, net of deferred income tax and reclassification adjustments	(5,309)	489	(5,899)	529
Foreign currency translation	9	18	25	27
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(5,300)	507	(5,874)	556
Comprehensive income (loss)	(2,320)	(2,215)	3,141	(9,011)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,405)	(675)	(2,796)	(634)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to PICO Holdings, Inc.	$ (3,725)	$ (2,890)	$ 345	$ (9,645)
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted:
Income (loss) from continuing operations ($ per share)	$ 0.12	$ (0.19)	$ 0.52	$ (0.40)
Loss from discontinued operations ($ per share)	(0.05)	0.04	(0.25)	(0.04)
Net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted ($ per share)	$ 0.07	$ (0.15)	$ 0.27	$ (0.44)
Weighted average shares outstanding (number of shares)	23,126	23,040	23,099	23,039