Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2017	Nov. 30, 2016	Nov. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings	$ 357,584	$ 15,406	$ 95,329
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,977	(2,365)	15,236
Deferred income taxes	(43,246)	(14,013)	88,796
Income on loans to and investments in related parties	(109,395)	(17,184)	(75,717)
Distributions received on investments in related parties	21,038	38,180	76,681
Other adjustments	44,043	(32,711)	(97,804)
Net change in assets and liabilities:
Cash and securities segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes or deposited with clearing and depository organizations	280,703	(107,771)	2,691,028
Receivables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(487,385)	(477,273)	576,832
Customers	(720,710)	348,055	57,837
Fees, interest and other	(68,177)	(54,366)	541
Securities borrowed	50,660	(805,779)	(127,060)
Financial instruments owned	(110,368)	2,529,114	2,003,978
Investments in managed funds	(8,719)	(138,572)	15,498
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	234,740	(112,777)	53,817
Other assets	8,435	(173,127)	(62,361)
Payables:
Brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(1,081,611)	584,426	471,661
Customers	366,721	(483,188)	(3,455,080)
Securities loaned	381	(122,946)	385,929
Financial instruments sold, not yet purchased	(279,282)	1,753,647	(2,043,319)
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	1,838,793	(3,144,433)	(650,795)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	524,304	296,067	(259,665)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	820,486	(121,610)	(238,638)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Contributions to loans to and investments in related parties	(3,161,619)	(538,186)	(1,438,675)
Distributions from loans to and investments in related parties	3,068,961	689,226	1,384,944
Proceeds from sale of Jefferies LoanCore	173,105	0	0
Net payments on premises and equipment	(72,653)	(75,772)	(68,813)
Payment on purchase of aircraft	0	(27,500)	0
Proceeds from sale of aircraft	0	29,450	0
Deconsolidation of asset management entity	0	(77)	(16,512)
Cash received from contingent consideration	1,342	2,617	4,444
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	9,136	79,758	(134,612)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from short-term borrowings	34,499,230	15,313,383	17,263,217
Payments on short-term borrowings	(34,594,992)	(15,108,501)	(16,964,558)
Proceeds from secured credit facility	0	0	903,000
Payments on secured credit facility	0	0	(1,073,000)
Net (payments on) proceeds from other secured financings	(33,468)	(7,333)	157,085
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs	1,116,798	299,779	0
Repayment of long-term debt	(186,444)	(373,246)	(500,000)
Net change in bank overdrafts	(5,650)	(46,536)	29,295
Proceeds from contributions of noncontrolling interests	0	9,390	0
Payments on distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	(563)	(4,982)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	795,474	86,373	(189,943)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	10,327	(25,615)	(6,612)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	1,635,423	18,906	(569,805)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,529,069	3,510,163	4,079,968
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	5,164,492	3,529,069	3,510,163
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
Interest	1,025,576	859,466	859,815
Income taxes, net	$ 8,910	$ (6,410)	$ (683)