Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total USD ($)	Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member] USD ($)		Additional Paid-In-Capital [Member] USD ($)	Retained Earnings [Member] USD ($)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax [Member] USD ($)	Class A Common Stock Held By Subsidiaries [Member] USD ($)	Total Lazard Ltd Stockholders' Equity [Member] USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interests [Member] USD ($)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 651,540		$ 1,282		$ 846,050	$ 182,647	$ (110,541)	$ (349,782)	$ 569,656	$ 81,884
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		7,921	128,216,424	[1]				12,802,938
Comprehensive income (loss):
NET INCOME	17,649					15,360			15,360	2,289
Other comprehensive income (loss) - net of tax	(14,374)						(14,217)		(14,217)	(157)
Business acquisitions and related equity transactions:
Class A common stock issuable (including related amortization)	451				446				446	5
Delivery of Class A common stock (including dividend-equivalents)					(4,994)	(179)		5,173
Delivery of Class A common stock (including dividend-equivalents) (in shares)								(170,988)
Amortization of share-based incentive compensation	70,712				69,868				69,868	844
Purchase of Class A common stock	(30,168)							(30,168)	(30,168)
Purchase of Class A common stock (in shares)								831,157
Delivery of Class A common stock in connection with shared-based incentive compensation and related tax benefit	(116,092)				(307,883)	(609)		192,390	(116,102)	10
Delivery of Class A common stock in connection with share-based incentive compensation and related tax benefit (in shares)								(6,658,417)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(2,617)									(2,617)
Adjustments related to noncontrolling interests					1,757				1,757	(1,757)
Other					(78)	78
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	577,101		1,282		605,166	197,297	(124,758)	(182,387)	496,600	80,501
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013		7,291	128,216,424	[1]				6,804,690
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	629,998		1,291		737,899	203,236	(133,004)	(249,213)	560,209	69,789
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		7,921	129,056,082	[2]				8,317,065
Comprehensive income (loss):
NET INCOME	85,429					80,842			80,842	4,587
Other comprehensive income (loss) - net of tax	6,645						6,621		6,621	24
Business acquisitions and related equity transactions:
Class A common stock issuable (including related amortization)	129				128				128	1
Amortization of share-based incentive compensation	60,797				60,464				60,464	333
Purchase of Class A common stock	(106,935)							(106,935)	(106,935)
Purchase of Class A common stock (in shares)								2,392,674
Delivery of Class A common stock in connection with shared-based incentive compensation and related tax benefit	(80,245)				(247,810)			167,555	(80,255)	10
Delivery of Class A common stock in connection with share-based incentive compensation and related tax benefit (in shares)								(4,649,300)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	(3,928)									(3,928)
Adjustments related to noncontrolling interests					1,017				1,017	(1,017)
Dividend-equivalents	(332)				5,013	(5,343)			(330)	(2)
Class A common stock dividends	(35,917)					(35,917)			(35,917)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 555,641		$ 1,291		$ 556,711	$ 242,818	$ (126,383)	$ (188,593)	$ 485,844	$ 69,797
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014		7,921	129,056,082	[2]				6,060,439

[1] (*) Includes 128,216,423 shares of the Company's Class A common stock issued at January 1, 2013 and March 31, 2013, and 1 share of the Company's Class B common stock issued at each such date.

[2] (*) Includes 129,056,081 shares of the Company's Class A common stock issued at January 1, 2014 and March 31, 2014, and 1 share of the Company's Class B common stock issued at each such date.