Schedule of Cash Flows - Parent Company - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 24, 2014	Sep. 25, 2013
Operating activities
Net earnings	$ 91,050	$ 18,949	$ (15,843)	$ 28,804	$ 140,271
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash:
Excess distributed earning of subsidiaries	0	0	0	20,341	0
Undistributed (earnings) loss of subsidiaries	(23,206)	(8,678)	25,357	5,009	(29,777)
Provision for deferred income taxes	40,523	8,142	(9,861)	(1,886)	56,396
Gain on sale of Biglari Capital Corp	0	0		0	(1,597)
Investment gains (including contributions)	0	0		0	(162,300)
Investment partnerships (gains) losses	(110,268)	(20,457)	8,845	(6,749)	(20,068)
Distributions from investment partnerships	0	0	15,175	7,776	0
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(185)	689	693	(10,554)	785
Changes in receivables and other	952	(723)	4,774	(4,016)	3,410
Net cash provided by operating activities	(1,134)	(2,078)	29,140	38,725	(12,880)
Investing activities
Investments in and advances to/ from subsidiaries, net	(5,172)	(2,348)	(19,290)	(13,318)	30,000
Additions of property and equipment	0	0	(2)	(1,096)	(1,106)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0	0	(40,143)	0
Proceeds from sale of Biglari Capital Corp., net of cash on hand	0	0	0	0	1,699
Purchases of investments	0	0	(78,500)	(60,000)	(46,977)
Sales of investments	0	0	0	0	1
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(5,172)	(2,348)	(97,792)	(114,557)	(16,383)
Financing activities
Proceeds from stock rights offering	0	0	0	85,873	75,595
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3	0	222	24	16
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	3	0	222	85,897	75,611
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(6,303)	(4,426)	(68,430)	10,065	46,348
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	82,344	72,279	76,041	72,279	25,931
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 76,041	$ 67,853	$ 7,611	$ 82,344	$ 72,279