Document and Entity Information - shares	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jul. 31, 2019
Entity Registrant Name	Biglari Holdings Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	0001726173
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Jun. 30, 2019
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Is Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q2
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Class A Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		206,864
Class B Common Stock
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		2,068,640