Consolidated Statements of Financial Condition - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,483,836	$ 1,158,785
Deposits with banks and short-term investments	935,431	419,668
Cash deposited with clearing organizations and other segregated cash	35,539	29,030
Receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $23,746 and $16,386 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively):
Fees	487,800	564,291
Customers and other	83,816	73,991
Total receivables, net	571,616	638,282
Investments	427,186	459,422
Property (net of accumulated amortization and depreciation of $317,827 and $286,001 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)	205,301	209,021
Goodwill and other intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $63,099 and $60,080 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)	391,364	382,024
Deferred tax assets	650,260	1,075,777
Other assets	228,144	184,499
Total Assets	4,928,677	4,556,508
Liabilities:
Deposits and other customer payables	992,338	472,283
Accrued compensation and benefits	593,781	541,588
Senior debt	1,190,383	1,188,600
Deferred tax liabilities	9,407	9,168
Other liabilities	573,588	537,446
Total Liabilities	3,669,772	3,262,695
Commitments and contingencies
Common stock:
Class A, par value $.01 per share (500,000,000 shares authorized; 129,766,091 shares issued at December 31, 2017 and 2016, including shares held by subsidiaries as indicated below)	1,298	1,298
Additional paid-in-capital	788,140	688,231
Retained earnings	1,080,413	1,134,186
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax	(232,518)	(314,222)
Stockholders' equity subtotal before common stock held by subsidiaries and Noncontrolling interests, total	1,637,333	1,509,493
Class A common stock held by subsidiaries, at cost (10,747,142 and 7,628,786 shares at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)	(437,530)	(273,506)
Total Lazard Ltd Stockholders’ Equity	1,199,803	1,235,987
Noncontrolling interests	59,102	57,826
Total Stockholders’ Equity	1,258,905	1,293,813
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	4,928,677	4,556,508
LTBP Trust [Member]
Liabilities:
Tax receivable agreement obligation	310,275	513,610
Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock:
Preferred stock
Series B Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock:
Preferred stock