CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Consolidated, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 24, 2014	Sep. 25, 2013	Sep. 26, 2012
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities
Net earnings	$ 91,050	$ 18,949	$ 28,804	$ 142,172	$ 24,745
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows
Depreciation and amortization	6,828	6,566	24,905	25,250	26,424
Provision for deferred income taxes	52,909	6,623	9,164	72,035	(2,727)
Asset impairments and other non-cash expenses	84	162	3,253	3,508	3,744
Loss on disposal of assets	707	162	977	1,111	611
Gain on sale of Biglari Capital Corp	0	0	0	(1,597)	0
Investment gains (including contributions)	0	0	(29,578)	(182,177)	(4,200)
Investment partnership gains	(144,702)	(23,493)	(14,055)	(20,068)	0
Distributions from investment partnerships	0	1,469	10,340	0	0
Changes in receivables and inventories	(3,404)	(709)	(5,926)	195	(3,659)
Changes in other assets	(855)	(793)	(2,599)	(2,742)	1,019
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses	3,026	(3,590)	2,290	3,764	10,491
Investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
Purchases of investments	0	0	0	0	(14,477)
Sales of investments	0	0	0	1,516	26,052
Investment gains/losses	0	0	0	(3,597)	(5,942)
Changes in cash and cash equivalents	0	0	0	(578)	(12,115)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,643	5,346	27,575	38,792	49,966
Cash flows from investing activities
Additions of property and equipment	(8,816)	(5,283)	(35,812)	(14,167)	(8,675)
Proceeds from property and equipment disposals	924	519	2,641	2,449	2,379
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0	(40,143)	0	0
Purchase of lease rights	0	0	0	(3,770)	0
Proceeds from sale of Biglari Capital Corp., net of cash on hand	0	0	0	1,699	0
Purchases of investments and contributions to investment partnerships	(1,372)	0	(112,530)	(46,977)	(108,825)
Sales of investments and redemptions of fixed maturity secruities	11,748	0	11,986	1	38,108
Changes in due to/from broker	0	0	0	0	(7,272)
Changes in restricted assets	0	0	3,098	0	(3,600)
Net cash used in investing activities	2,484	(4,764)	(170,760)	(60,765)	(87,885)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	0	7,000	11,700	17,000	0
Payments on revolving credit facility	(20)	0	(10,700)	(17,000)	(15,000)
Borrowings on long-term debt	0	0	217,800	0	130,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(1,100)	(15,438)	(120,800)	(12,138)	(110,170)
Deferred financing charges	0	0	(4,754)	0	(1,961)
Principal payments on direct financing lease obligations	(1,628)	(1,582)	(6,278)	(5,904)	(5,272)
Proceeds from stock rights offering	0	0	85,873	75,595	0
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and employees stock purchase plan	3	0	24	16	403
Financing activities of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
Contributions from and distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	(1,226)	1,291
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,745)	(10,020)	172,865	56,343	(709)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3)	289	(16)	(103)	0
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	5,379	(9,149)	29,664	34,267	(38,628)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	124,290	94,626	94,626	60,359	98,987
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 129,669	$ 85,477	$ 124,290	$ 94,626	$ 60,359