Consolidating Financial Information - Schedule of Income Statement Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales									$ 4,449,200,000	$ 4,085,600,000	$ 3,252,400,000
Oil and natural gas									147,000,000	90,200,000
Insurance premiums									56,600,000	58,800,000	55,300,000
Net investment income									842,200,000	734,700,000	722,700,000
Net investment gains									395,300,000	511,600,000	410,000,000
Insurance and investment product fees and other									72,700,000	62,500,000	40,300,000
Total revenues									5,963,000,000	5,543,400,000	4,480,700,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold									2,875,600,000	2,695,300,000	2,136,800,000
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs									69,600,000	44,000,000
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves									852,700,000	531,800,000	777,400,000
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses									1,335,400,000	1,220,500,000	932,700,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties									81,000,000	54,300,000	0
Amortization of intangibles									179,200,000	260,100,000	224,300,000
Total operating costs and expenses									5,393,500,000	4,806,000,000	4,071,200,000
Operating income	144,900,000	229,100,000	16,200,000	179,300,000	205,400,000	182,600,000	134,000,000	215,400,000	569,500,000	737,400,000	409,500,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries
Affiliated interest expense
Interest Expense									321,900,000	511,900,000	251,000,000
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock									(12,700,000)	(101,600,000)	(156,600,000)
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction									500,000	0	41,000,000
Other expense, net									(22,200,000)	(5,600,000)	(17,500,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									213,200,000	118,300,000	25,400,000
Income tax expense (benefit)									111,500,000	187,300,000	(85,300,000)
Net income (loss)									101,700,000	(69,000,000)	110,700,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									112,000,000	(23,200,000)	21,200,000
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest									(10,300,000)	(45,800,000)	89,500,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion									73,600,000	48,400,000	59,600,000
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders	(6,300,000)	49,000,000	(87,600,000)	(39,000,000)	(202,300,000)	91,600,000	(45,500,000)	62,000,000	(83,900,000)	(94,200,000)	29,900,000
Consumer Products Segment
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales									4,429,100,000	4,085,600,000	3,252,400,000
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums
Net investment income
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues									4,429,100,000	4,085,600,000	3,252,400,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold									2,860,300,000	2,695,300,000	2,136,800,000
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses									1,005,200,000	961,300,000	750,100,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
Amortization of intangibles									81,700,000	77,800,000	63,700,000
Total operating costs and expenses									3,947,200,000	3,734,400,000	2,950,600,000
Operating income									481,900,000	351,200,000	301,800,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries											0
Affiliated interest expense											0
Interest Expense									202,100,000	(375,600,000)	191,900,000
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock											0
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction									0		0
Other expense, net									(6,300,000)	(3,500,000)	(900,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									273,500,000	(27,900,000)	109,000,000
Income tax expense (benefit)									59,000,000	27,400,000	60,400,000
Net income (loss)									214,500,000	(55,300,000)	48,600,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									88,900,000	(23,600,000)	21,200,000
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest									125,600,000	(31,700,000)	27,400,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion											0
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders									125,600,000	(31,700,000)	27,400,000
Insurance
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums									56,600,000	58,800,000	55,300,000
Net investment income									824,500,000	715,500,000	716,200,000
Net investment gains									395,900,000	511,600,000	410,000,000
Insurance and investment product fees and other									72,700,000	62,500,000	40,300,000
Total revenues									1,349,700,000	1,348,400,000	1,221,800,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves									852,700,000	531,800,000	777,400,000
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses									114,700,000	111,400,000	123,900,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
Amortization of intangibles									97,500,000	182,300,000	160,600,000
Total operating costs and expenses									1,064,900,000	825,500,000	1,061,900,000
Operating income									284,800,000	522,900,000	159,900,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries									(6,000,000)		0
Affiliated interest expense											0
Interest Expense									22,500,000	(11,500,000)	2,500,000
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock											0
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction									0		41,000,000
Other expense, net										(200,000)	100,000
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									256,300,000	511,200,000	198,500,000
Income tax expense (benefit)									54,000,000	161,000,000	(145,700,000)
Net income (loss)									202,300,000	350,200,000	344,200,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									27,200,000		0
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest									175,100,000	350,200,000	344,200,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion											0
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders									175,100,000	350,200,000	344,200,000
Energy Segment
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales
Oil and natural gas									147,000,000	90,200,000
Insurance premiums
Net investment income
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues									147,000,000	90,200,000	0
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs									69,600,000	44,000,000
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses									50,100,000	37,100,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties									81,000,000	54,300,000
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses									200,700,000	135,400,000
Operating income									(53,700,000)	(45,200,000)	0
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries										(5,600,000)	0
Affiliated interest expense									(9,000,000)		0
Interest Expense									7,700,000	(4,700,000)	0
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock											0
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction									0		0
Other expense, net									(6,500,000)	(1,300,000)	0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(76,900,000)	(56,800,000)	0
Income tax expense (benefit)											0
Net income (loss)									(76,900,000)	(56,800,000)	0
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest											0
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest									(76,900,000)	(56,800,000)	0
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion											0
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders									(76,900,000)	(56,800,000)	0
Asset Management segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums
Net investment income									34,200,000	28,900,000
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses									33,500,000	18,500,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses									33,500,000	18,500,000
Operating income									700,000	10,400,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries										(4,100,000)
Affiliated interest expense									(6,000,000)
Interest Expense
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock
Other expense, net									(1,200,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(6,500,000)	6,300,000
Income tax expense (benefit)									(100,000)	100,000
Net income (loss)									(6,400,000)	6,200,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(400,000)	400,000
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest									(6,000,000)	5,800,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders									(6,000,000)	5,800,000
Other Segments [Member]
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales
Insurance premiums
Net investment income											8,600,000
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues									34,200,000	28,900,000	8,600,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses											6,100,000
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses											6,100,000
Operating income											2,500,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries											0
Affiliated interest expense											(2,100,000)
Interest Expense											0
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock											0
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction									0		0
Other expense, net											0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes											400,000
Income tax expense (benefit)											0
Net income (loss)											400,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest											0
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest											400,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion											0
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders											400,000
Corporate and Other
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales									20,100,000
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums
Net investment income
Net investment gains
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues									20,100,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold									15,300,000
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses									131,300,000	91,000,000	52,600,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses									146,600,000	91,000,000	52,600,000
Operating income									(126,500,000)	(91,000,000)	(52,600,000)
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries									221,400,000		372,000,000
Affiliated interest expense									(1,500,000)	266,300,000	0
Interest Expense									89,600,000	(120,100,000)	56,600,000
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock									(12,700,000)	(101,600,000)	(156,600,000)
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction									500,000		0
Other expense, net									(4,700,000)	(600,000)	(16,700,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(13,100,000)	(47,000,000)	89,500,000
Income tax expense (benefit)									900,000	(1,200,000)	0
Net income (loss)									(14,000,000)	(45,800,000)	89,500,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest									(3,700,000)		0
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest									(10,300,000)	(45,800,000)	89,500,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion									73,600,000	48,400,000	59,600,000
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders									(83,900,000)	(94,200,000)	29,900,000
Intersegment elimination
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales
Oil and natural gas
Insurance premiums
Net investment income									(16,500,000)	(9,700,000)	(2,100,000)
Net investment gains									(600,000)
Insurance and investment product fees and other
Total revenues									(17,100,000)	(9,700,000)	(2,100,000)
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses									600,000	1,200,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties
Amortization of intangibles
Total operating costs and expenses									600,000	1,200,000
Operating income									(17,700,000)	(10,900,000)	(2,100,000)
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries									(215,400,000)	9,700,000	(372,000,000)
Affiliated interest expense									16,500,000	(266,300,000)	2,100,000
Interest Expense											0
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock											0
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction									0		0
Other expense, net									(3,500,000)		0
Income from continuing operations before income taxes									(220,100,000)	(267,500,000)	(372,000,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)									(2,300,000)		0
Net income (loss)									(217,800,000)	(267,500,000)	(372,000,000)
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest											0
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest									(217,800,000)	(267,500,000)	(372,000,000)
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion											0
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders									(217,800,000)	(267,500,000)	(372,000,000)
Consolidated Entities
Revenues:
Net consumer and other product sales										4,085,600,000	3,252,400,000
Oil and natural gas										90,200,000
Insurance premiums										58,800,000	55,300,000
Net investment income										734,700,000	722,700,000
Net investment gains										511,600,000	410,000,000
Insurance and investment product fees and other										62,500,000	40,300,000
Total revenues									5,942,900,000	5,543,400,000	4,480,700,000
Operating costs and expenses:
Cost of consumer products and other goods sold										2,695,300,000	2,136,800,000
Oil and natural gas direct operating costs										44,000,000
Benefits and other changes in policy reserves										531,800,000	777,400,000
Selling, acquisition, operating and general expenses										1,220,500,000	932,700,000
Impairment of oil and natural gas properties										54,300,000
Amortization of intangibles										260,100,000	224,300,000
Total operating costs and expenses										4,806,000,000	4,071,200,000
Operating income										737,400,000	409,500,000
Equity in net income (losses) of subsidiaries											0
Affiliated interest expense											0
Interest Expense										(511,900,000)	251,000,000
Loss from the change in the fair value of the equity conversion feature of preferred stock										(101,600,000)	(156,600,000)
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction											41,000,000
Other expense, net										(5,600,000)	(17,500,000)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes										118,300,000	25,400,000
Income tax expense (benefit)										187,300,000	(85,300,000)
Net income (loss)										(69,000,000)	110,700,000
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest										(23,200,000)	21,200,000
Net (loss) income attributable to controlling interest										(45,800,000)	89,500,000
Less: Preferred stock dividends, accretion and loss on conversion										48,400,000	59,600,000
Net (loss) income attributable to common and participating preferred stockholders										$ (94,200,000)	$ 29,900,000