Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
NET INCOME	$ 542,545	$ 402,692	$ 297,716
Currency translation adjustments:
Currency translation adjustments before reclassification	(48,099)	52,862	9,551
Adjustment for items reclassified to earnings	23,645
Employee benefit plans:
Actuarial gain (loss) (net of tax expense (benefit) of $13,263, $(1,431) and $(9,236) for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)	33,315	(3,626)	(34,098)
Adjustment for items reclassified to earnings (net of tax expense of $1,609, $1,476 and $1,167 for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively)	5,660	6,046	4,717
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS), NET OF TAX	14,521	55,282	(19,830)
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	557,066	457,974	277,886
LESS - COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	14,481	233	11,216
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO LAZARD LTD	$ 542,585	$ 457,741	$ 266,670