CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified		Total USD ($)	Series A Preferred Stock	Common Stock USD ($)		Additional-Paid-in-Capital USD ($)	Retained Earnings USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax USD ($)	Class A Common Stock Held By a Subsidiary USD ($)	Total Lazard Ltd Stockholder's Equity USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		$ 796,117		$ 1,197		$ 758,841	$ 166,468	$ (46,158)	$ (227,950)	$ 652,398	$ 143,719
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			22,021	119,697,937	[1]				6,847,508
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income		198,682					179,710			179,710	18,972
Other comprehensive income (loss) - net of tax:
Currency translation adjustments		(6,322)						(5,866)		(5,866)	(456)
Amortization of interest rate hedge		791						749		749	42
Employee benefit plans:
Net actuarial loss		(8,215)						(7,778)		(7,778)	(437)
Adjustments for items reclassified to earnings		1,674						1,585		1,585	89
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME		186,610								168,400	18,210
Business acquisitions and related equity transactions:
Class A common stock issued/issuable (including in connection related amortization)		44,803				41,688				41,688	3,115
Conversion of Series A preferred stock into Class A common stock				25		(25)
Conversion of Series A preferred stock into Class A common stock (in shares)			(14,100)	2,434,561	[1]
Delivery of Class A common stock		(788)				(45,935)			45,147	(788)
Delivery of Class A common stock (in shares)									(1,247,555)
Amortization of share-based incentive compensation		211,466				200,230				200,230	11,236
Dividend-equivalents		(57)				9,140	(9,194)			(54)	(3)
Class A common stock dividends		(51,409)					(51,409)			(51,409)
Purchase of Class A common stock (in shares)									4,318,916
Purchase of Class A common stock		(158,617)							(158,617)	(158,617)
Delivery of Class A common stock in connection with share-based incentive compensation and related tax expense of $0 for 2012 and $2,178 for 2011		(90,159)				(290,059)			199,827	(90,232)	73
Delivery of Class A common stock in connection with share-based incentive compensation and related tax benefits (in shares)									(5,820,438)
Repurchase of common membership interests from LAZ-MD Holdings		(794)				(751)				(751)	(43)
Class A common stock issued in exchange for Lazard Group common membership interests				7		(7)
Class A common stock issued in exchange for Lazard Group common membership interests (in shares)	[1]			738,655
Adjustment related to the change in Lazard Ltd's ownership in Lazard Group		(1,580)				(1,580)				(1,580)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net		(17,610)									(17,610)
Other adjustments related to noncontrolling interests						14,258		(244)		14,014	(14,014)
Balance - September 30, 2011 at Sep. 30, 2011		917,982		1,229		685,800	285,575	(57,712)	(141,593)	773,299	144,683
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011			7,921	122,871,153	[1]				4,098,431
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		866,856		1,230		659,013	258,646	(88,364)	(104,382)	726,143	140,713
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			7,921	123,009,312	[2]				3,492,017
Comprehensive income (loss):
Net income		96,891					89,674			89,674	7,217
Other comprehensive income (loss) - net of tax:
Currency translation adjustments		12,352						11,547		11,547	805
Amortization of interest rate hedge		791						751		751	40
Employee benefit plans:
Net actuarial loss		(7,947)						(7,545)		(7,545)	(402)
Adjustments for items reclassified to earnings		2,444						2,320		2,320	124
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME		104,531								96,747	7,784
Business acquisitions and related equity transactions:
Class A common stock issued/issuable (including in connection related amortization)		3,549				3,369				3,369	180
Amortization of share-based incentive compensation		220,175				209,036				209,036	11,139
Dividend-equivalents		(91)				11,770	(11,856)			(86)	(5)
Class A common stock dividends		(66,219)					(66,219)			(66,219)
Purchase of Class A common stock (in shares)									8,235,306
Purchase of Class A common stock		(222,679)							(222,679)	(222,679)
Delivery of Class A common stock in connection with share-based incentive compensation and related tax expense of $0 for 2012 and $2,178 for 2011		(41,658)				(141,781)			100,172	(41,609)	(49)
Delivery of Class A common stock in connection with share-based incentive compensation and related tax benefits (in shares)									(3,196,018)
Class A common stock issued in exchange for Lazard Group common membership interests				2		(2)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net		(15,855)									(15,855)
Class A stock issued in exchange for Lazard Group common membership interests (in Shares)	[2]			191,701
Deconsolidation of investment companies		(14,783)									(14,783)
Adjustments related to noncontrolling interests						9,242		(117)		9,125	(9,125)
Balance - September 30, 2011 at Sep. 30, 2012		$ 833,826		$ 1,232		$ 750,647	$ 270,245	$ (81,408)	$ (226,889)	$ 713,827	$ 119,999
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012			7,921	123,201,013	[2]				8,531,305

[1] Includes 119,697,936 and 122,871,152 shares of the Company's Class A common stock issued at January 1, 2011 and September 30, 2011, respectively, and 1 share of the Company's Class B common stock issued at each such date.

[2] Includes 123,009,311 and 123,201,012 shares of the Company's Class A common stock issued at January 1, 2012 and September 30, 2012, respectively, and 1 share of the Company's Class B common stock issued at each such date.