Note 17. Business Segment Reporting (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	$ 27,870	$ (8,429)	$ 39,432	$ (11,040)
Restaurant | Steak n Shake
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(3,057)	2,659	(21,915)	1,667
Restaurant | Western Sizzlin
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	506	674	889	1,048
Restaurant | Total Restaurant Operations
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(2,551)	3,333	(21,026)	2,715
Operating Business
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(411)	5,814	(17,315)	5,628
Operating Business | First Guard
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1,850	2,301	3,394	2,811
Operating Business | Maxim
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	176	16	64	(201)
Operating Business | Other
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	114	164	253	303
Corporate | Corporate
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(2,767)	(3,004)	(5,397)	(6,170)
Corporate | Investment Partnership Gains (Losses)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	34,198	(8,341)	68,352	(4,846)
Corporate | Total Corporate And Investments
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	31,431	(11,345)	62,955	(11,016)
Reconciliation Of Segments | Interest expense on notes payable and other borrowings
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	$ (3,150)	$ (2,898)	$ (6,208)	$ (5,652)