Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets [Abstract]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 666,589	$ 841,482
Deposits with banks	274,391	244,879
Cash deposited with clearing organizations and other segregated cash	64,460	62,046
Receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $31,324 and $28,777 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively):
Fees	401,037	452,535
Customers and other	117,860	52,220
Related parties	4,185	7,920
Total receivables, net	523,082	512,675
Investments	417,295	478,105
Property (net of accumulated amortization and depreciation of $262,928 and $253,930 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	242,977	248,796
Goodwill and other intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $46,599 and $45,379 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively)	366,921	363,877
Other assets	342,488	259,277
Total Assets	2,898,203	3,011,137
Liabilities:
Deposits and other customer payables	350,114	275,434
Accrued compensation and benefits	339,162	523,063
Senior debt	1,048,350	1,048,350
Capital lease obligations	15,246	15,834
Related party payables	2,582	5,031
Other liabilities	587,108	513,427
Total Liabilities	2,342,562	2,381,139
Commitments and contingencies
Common stock:
Additional paid-in-capital	556,711	737,899
Retained earnings	242,818	203,236
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(126,383)	(133,004)
Stockholders' equity subtotal before common stock held by subsidiary and Noncontrolling interests, total	674,437	809,422
Total Lazard Ltd Stockholders' Equity	485,844	560,209
Noncontrolling interests	69,797	69,789
Total Stockholders' Equity	555,641	629,998
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	2,898,203	3,011,137
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	1,291	1,291
Class A common stock held by subsidiaries, at cost	(188,593)	(249,213)
Class B Common Stock [Member]
Common stock:
Common stock