Goodwill and Intangibles (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Jul. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Goodwill and Intangibles (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
2012	$ 62,600
2013	62,600
2014	62,600
2015	62,600
2016	62,600
Consumer Products and Other:
Goodwill and Intangibles (Textual) [Abstract]
Intangible assets amortization method	straight-line method
Consumer Products and Other: \| Minimum [Member]
Goodwill and Intangibles (Textual) [Abstract]
Weighted average amortization period	4 years
Consumer Products and Other: \| Maximum [Member]
Goodwill and Intangibles (Textual) [Abstract]
Weighted average amortization period	20 years
VOBA [Member] \| Insurance and Financial Services:
Goodwill and Intangibles (Textual) [Abstract]
Cumulative adjustments for net unrealized investment gains	(244,347)	(170,117)
Weighted average amortization period	5 years
Goodwill and Intangibles (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
2012	14,705
2013	69,708
2014	67,514
2015	58,789
2016	51,918
DAC [Member] \| Insurance and Financial Services:
Goodwill and Intangibles (Textual) [Abstract]
Cumulative adjustments for net unrealized investment gains	(19,845)	(2,146)
Deferred sales inducements, net of shadow adjustments	8,500	5,048
Weighted average amortization period	6 years
Goodwill and Intangibles (Additional Textual) [Abstract]
2012	3,879
2013	16,651
2014	20,594
2015	20,555
2016	$ 19,419

Cumulative adjustments for net unrealized investment gains.

No definition available.

Name:	hrg_CumulativeAdjustmentsForNetUnrealizedInvestmentGains
Namespace Prefix:	hrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Deferred sales inducements, net of shadow adjustments.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hrg_DeferredSalesInducementsNetOfShadowAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	hrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	hrg_GoodwillAndIntangiblesAdditionalTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	hrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	hrg_GoodwillAndIntangiblesTextualAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	hrg_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the next fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16323-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fifth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fourth fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the third fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the second fiscal year following the latest fiscal year for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationExpenseYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amortization method of a major finite-lived intangible asset class. A major class is composed of intangible assets that can be grouped together because they are similar either by their nature or by their use in the operations of a company. The straight-line method is the preferred amortization method, unless another method better reflects the pattern in which the asset is consumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 12, 13, 14

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 35

-Paragraph 6

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658317&loc=d3e15372-109273

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAmortizationMethod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration