CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 850,190	$ 1,003,791
Deposits with banks	292,494	286,037
Cash deposited with clearing organizations and other segregated cash	65,232	75,506
Receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $23,017 and $19,450 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively):
Fees	400,529	402,843
Customers and other	53,713	83,111
Related parties	23,801	18,501
Total receivables, net	478,043	504,455
Investments	414,673	378,521
Property (net of accumulated amortization and depreciation of $225,861 and $266,673 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	225,033	168,429
Goodwill and other intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $35,281 and $26,922 at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	392,822	393,099
Other assets	268,406	272,098
Total Assets	2,986,893	3,081,936
Liabilities:
Deposits and other customer payables	269,763	288,427
Accrued compensation and benefits	467,578	383,513
Senior debt	1,076,850	1,076,850
Capital lease obligations	17,863	20,084
Related party payables	3,648	6,075
Other liabilities	499,651	440,131
Total Liabilities	2,335,353	2,215,080
Commitments and contingencies
Common stock:
Additional paid-in-capital	846,050	659,013
Retained earnings	182,647	258,646
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(110,541)	(88,364)
Stockholders' equity subtotal before common stock held by subsidiary and Noncontrolling interests, total	919,438	830,525
Total Lazard Ltd Stockholders' Equity	569,656	726,143
Noncontrolling interests	81,884	140,713
Total Stockholders' Equity	651,540	866,856
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,986,893	3,081,936
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; 15,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred stock
Series B Preferred stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; 15,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred stock
Class A Common stock [Member]
Common stock:
Common stock	1,282	1,230
Common stock held by subsidiary	(349,782)	(104,382)
Class B Common stock [Member]
Common stock:
Common stock