Schedule of Income Statement (Parent Company, USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 24, 2014	Sep. 25, 2013	Sep. 26, 2012
Parent Company
Income
Dividends	$ 32,223	$ 0	$ 0
Undistributed earnings from subsidiaries	(5,009)	29,777	28,306
Total	27,214	29,777	28,306
Costs, expenses and other
General and administrative	8,522	19,685	18,388
Other income
Other income, net	19	5,220	3,412
Investment gains (including contributions)	0	162,300	4,152
Investment partnership gains	6,749	20,068	0
Gain on sale of Biglari Capital Corp	0	1,597	0
Total income	6,768	189,185	7,564
Earnings before infome taxes	25,460	199,277	17,482
Income taxes	(3,344)	59,006	(4,111)
Net earnings	$ 28,804	$ 140,271	$ 21,593