Note 16. Business Segment Reporting (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	$ (25,597)	$ 80,741
Restaurant | Steak n Shake
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	3,352	8,362
Restaurant | Western
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	450	586
Restaurant | Total Restaurant Operations
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	3,802	8,948
Operating Business
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	4,595	6,885
Operating Business | First Guard
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	969	1,327
Operating Business | Maxim
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	(324)	(3,515)
Operating Business | Other
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	148	125
Corporate | Corporate
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	(2,400)	(2,195)
Corporate | Investment Partnership Gains (Losses) [Member]
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	(24,968)	78,973
Corporate | Total Corporate And Investments [Member]
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	(27,368)	76,778
Reconciliation Of Segments | Interest expense on notes payable and other borrowings [Member]
Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests	$ (2,824)	$ (2,922)