Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2021
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	Principles of ConsolidationThe Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, its wholly owned subsidiaries and all other subsidiaries over which the Company exerts control. All intercompany profits, transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. As of March 31, 2021, the results of DBMG, Genovel, R2, HC2 Broadcasting, CIG, GMH and Beyond6 have been consolidated into the Company’s results based on guidance from the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC" 810, Consolidation). The remaining interests not owned by the Company are presented as a noncontrolling interest component of total equity.
Use of Estimates and Assumptions	Use of Estimates and Assumptions The preparation of the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions used.
Reclassification	Reclassification Certain previous year amounts have been reclassified to conform with current year presentations, as related to the reporting of new balance sheet line items: •The recast of Beyond6, ICS, and CIG's results to discontinued operations. Further, the reclassification of prior period assets and liabilities have been classified as held for sale. See Note 3. Discontinued Operations for further information; •As a result of the sale of ICS, and in accordance with ASC 280, the Company no longer considers the results of operations and Balance Sheets of the retained ICS entities as a separate segment. Formerly the Telecommunications segment, these entities have been reclassified to the Other segment. See Note 17. Operating Segment and Related Information for further information; and •As a result of the sale of Beyond6, and in accordance with ASC 280, the Company no longer considers the results of operations and Balance Sheets of Beyond6 as a separate segment. Formerly the Clean Energy segment, this entity has been reclassified to the Other segment. See Note 17. Operating Segment and Related Information for further information; and •The recast of prior year earnings per share as a result of the discontinued operations noted above. This includes presenting EPS for Net (loss) income from continuing operations, Net (loss) income from discontinuing operations, and Net (loss) income. See Note 18. Basic and Diluted Income (Loss) Per Common Share for further details.
Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted	Accounting Pronouncements Adopted in the Current Year Accounting for Debt with Conversion Options ASU 2020-06, Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470- 20) and Derivatives and Hedging - Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity, was issued by the FASB in August 2020. This ASU (1) simplifies the accounting for convertible debt instruments and convertible preferred stock by removing the existing guidance in ASC 470-20, Debt: Debt with Conversion and Other Options, that requires entities to account for beneficial conversion features and cash conversion features in equity, separately from the host convertible debt or preferred stock; (2) revises the scope exception from derivative accounting in ASC 815-40 for freestanding financial instruments and embedded features that are both indexed to the issuer’s own stock and classified in stockholders’ equity, by removing certain criteria required for equity classification; and (3) revises the guidance in ASC 260, Earnings Per Share, to require entities to calculate diluted earnings per share (EPS) for convertible instruments by using the if-converted method. In addition, entities must presume share settlement for purposes of calculating diluted EPS when an instrument may be settled in cash or shares. The standard is effective on January 1, 2024, but early adoption was elected as of January 1, 2021. A modified retrospective method of transition was applied, which resulted in no impact to the Company. Accounting Pronouncements to be Adopted Subsequent to December 31, 2021 Credit Loss Standard ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326), Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, was issued by FASB in June 2016. This standard is effective January 1, 2020 (with early adoption permitted), and will impact, at least to some extent, the Company's accounting and disclosure requirements for it's recoverable from reinsurers, accounts receivable, and mortgage loans. The FASB has voted to delay the effective date of ASU 2016-13 to January 1, 2023 for smaller reporting companies with a revised ASU in the fourth quarter of 2019. Currently, the Company continues to focus on developing models and procedures, with testing and refinement of models occurring in 2020 and 2021 with parallel testing to be performed in 2022. Available for sale fixed maturity securities are not in scope of the new credit loss model, but will undergo targeted improvements to the current reporting model including the establishment of a valuation allowance for credit losses versus the current direct write down approach. The Company will continue to identify any other financial assets not excluded from scope. The Company plans to use the modified retrospective method which will include a cumulative effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. However, prospective application is required for purchased credit deteriorated assets previously accounted for under ASU 310-30 for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI") was recognized prior to the date of adoption. The Company does not currently expect to early adopt this standard and is currently evaluating the impact of this new accounting guidance on its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Outlined below are key areas of change, although there are other changes not noted below: •Financial assets (or a group of financial assets) measured at amortized cost will be required to be presented at the net amount expected to be collected, with an allowance for credit losses deducted from the amortized cost basis, resulting in a net carrying value that reflects the amount the entity expects to collect on the financial asset at purchase. •Credit losses relating to available for sale fixed maturity securities will be recorded through an allowance for credit losses, rather than reductions in the amortized cost of the securities and is anticipated to increase volatility in the Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. The allowance methodology recognizes that value may be realized either through collection of contractual cash flows or through the sale of the security. Therefore, the amount of the allowance for credit losses will be limited to the amount by which fair value is below amortized cost because the classification as available for sale is premised on an investment strategy that recognizes that the investment could be sold at fair value, if cash collection would result in the realization of an amount less than fair value. •The Company's Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations will reflect the measurement of expected credit losses for newly recognized financial assets as well as the expected increases or decreases (including the reversal of previously recognized losses) of expected credit losses that have taken place during the period. The measurement of expected credit losses is based on relevant information about past events, including historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. •Disclosures will be required to include information around how the credit loss allowance was developed, further details on information currently disclosed about credit quality of financing receivables and net investments in leases, and a rollforward of the allowance for credit losses for available for sale fixed maturity securities as well as an aging analysis for securities that are past due. The Company anticipates a significant impact on its systems, processes and controls. While the requirements of the new guidance represent a material change from existing GAAP, the underlying economics of items in scope and related cash flows are unchanged. Focus areas will include, but not be limited to: (i) updating procedures to reflect new guidance requiring establishment of allowance for credit losses on available for sale debt securities; (ii) establishing procedures to review reinsurance risk to include but not limited to review of reinsurer ratings, trust agreements where applicable and historical and current performance; (iii) establishing procedures to identify and review all remaining financial assets within scope; and (iv) developing, testing, and implementing controls for newly developed procedures, as well as for additional annual reporting requirements. Subsequent Events ASC 855, Subsequent Events requires the Company to evaluate events that occur after the balance sheet date as of which the financial statements are issued, and to determine whether adjustments to or additional disclosures in the financial statements are necessary.