Consolidated Statements of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2011	Sep. 29, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Restaurant Operations:
Net sales	$ 694,378	$ 663,524	$ 622,944
Franchise fees	8,600	5,909	4,098
Other revenue	2,425	2,213	1,694
Total	705,403	671,646	628,736
Investment Management Operations:
Management fee income	224	233	0
Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships:
Investment gains/losses	3,135	1,837	0
Other income	438	65	0
Total	3,797	2,135	0
Total net revenues	709,200	673,781	628,736
Costs and expenses
Cost of sales	192,645	179,633	165,853
Restaurant operating costs	331,262	321,937	322,738
General and administrative	48,404	41,553	36,671
Depreciation and amortization	28,361	29,258	31,369
Marketing	38,476	34,835	33,304
Rent	16,891	16,627	15,929
Pre-opening costs	89	0	0
Asset impairments and provision for restaurant closings	1,032	353	2,645
Loss on disposal of assets	702	126	151
Other operating (income) expense	(1,157)	(558)	(843)
Total costs and expenses, net	656,705	623,764	607,817
Other income (expense)
Interest, dividend and other investment income	742	383	0
Interest on obligations under leases	(10,565)	(11,125)	(11,010)
Interest expense	(2,811)	(1,859)	(2,726)
Realized investment gains/losses	7,360	3,802	9
Derivative and short sale gains/losses	610	222	0
Total other income (expense)	(4,664)	(8,577)	(13,727)
Earnings before income taxes	47,831	41,440	7,192
Income taxes	13,867	12,019	1,163
Net earnings	33,964	29,421	6,029
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	(10)	(31)
Earnings attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests:
Income allocation	(1,909)	(1,317)	0
Incentive fee	2,510	0	0
Total earnings/loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	601	(1,317)	0
Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.	$ 34,565	$ 28,094	$ 5,998
Earnings per share attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc.
Basic earnings per common and common equivalent share	$ 25.99	$ 20.11	$ 4.21
Diluted earnings per common and common equivalent share	$ 25.86	$ 19.99	$ 4.2
Weighted average shares and equivalents
Basic	1,329,745	1,396,892	1,424,178
Diluted	1,336,693	1,405,375	1,429,549