17. Schedule of reconciliation of segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jul. 04, 2012	Jul. 06, 2011	Jul. 04, 2012	Jul. 06, 2011
Earnings before income taxes	$ 4,986	$ 11,151	$ 27,406	$ 32,697
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	4,853	8,676	18,176	23,784
Restaurant Operations | Steak n Shake
Earnings before income taxes	9,018	10,091	35,737	29,122
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	6,961	7,571	2,458	20,938
Restaurant Operations | Western
Earnings before income taxes	682	828	1,536	1,705
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	437	506	965	1,044
Restaurant Operations | Total Restaurant Operations
Earnings before income taxes	9,700	10,919	37,273	30,827
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	7,398	8,077	25,623	21,982
InvestmentManagement | IncentiveFee
Earnings before income taxes			36	2,510
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.			22	1,535
InvestmentManagement | Management fees
Earnings before income taxes				224
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.				139
InvestmentManagement | Consolidated affiliated partnerships
Earnings before income taxes	325	2,702	3,899	4,543
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	108	1,889	624	1,810
InvestmentManagement | Total Investment Management Operations
Earnings before income taxes	325	2,702	3,935	7,277
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	108	1,889	646	3,484
Corporate | Corporate And Other
Earnings before income taxes	(3,454)	(2,802)	(11,766)	(5,248)
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	(1,671)	(1,824)	(6,853)	(3,379)
Corporate | Investment And Derivative Gains Losses
Earnings before income taxes	227	934	4,200	4,385
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	141	589	2,604	2,763
Corporate | TotalCorporateAndOtherMember
Earnings before income taxes	(3,227)	(1,868)	(7,566)	(863)
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	(1,530)	(1,235)	(4,249)	(616)
ReconciliationOfSegmentsMember | ConsolidationEliminationsMember
Earnings before income taxes			(36)	(2,510)
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.		318		195
ReconciliationOfSegmentsMember | InterestExpenseMember
Earnings before income taxes	(1,812)	(602)	(6,200)	(2,034)
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	$ (1,123)	$ (373)	$ (3,844)	$ (1,261)