CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - Consolidated - 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 (loss)	$ 91,050	$ 18,949	$ (15,843)	$ 28,804	$ 142,172
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows
Depreciation and amortization	6,828	6,566	24,780	24,905	25,250
Provision for deferred income taxes	52,909	6,623	(26,476)	9,164	72,035
Asset impairments and other non-cash expenses	84	162	2,232	3,253	3,508
Loss on disposal of assets	707	162	1,351	977	1,111
Gain on sale of Biglari Capital Corp	0	0	0	0	(1,597)
Investment (gains) losses (including contributions)	0	0	62	(29,578)	(182,177)
Investment partnership (gains) losses	(144,702)	(23,493)	39,356	(14,055)	(20,068)
Distributions from investment partnerships	0	1,469	19,775	10,340	0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Changes in receivables and inventories	(3,404)	(709)	686	(5,926)	195
Changes in other assets	(855)	(793)	2,299	(2,599)	(2,742)
Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses	3,026	(3,590)	4,275	2,290	3,764
Investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
Sales of investments	0	0		0	1,516
Investment gains/losses	0	0		0	(3,597)
Changes in cash and cash equivalents	0	0		0	(578)
Net cash provided by operating activities	5,643	5,346	52,497	27,575	38,792
Investing activities
Additions of property and equipment	(8,816)	(5,283)	(11,083)	(35,812)	(14,167)
Proceeds from property and equipment disposals	924	519	135	2,641	2,449
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	0	0	0	(40,143)	0
Purchase of lease rights	0	0	0	0	(3,770)
Proceeds from sale of Biglari Capital Corp., net of cash on hand	0	0	0	0	1,699
Purchases of investments	(1,372)	0	(114,759)	(112,530)	(46,977)
Sales of investments and redemptions of fixed maturity secruities	11,748	0	12,407	11,986	1
Changes in restricted assets	0	0	0	3,098	0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	2,484	(4,764)	(113,300)	(170,760)	(60,765)
Financing activities
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	0	7,000	0	11,700	17,000
Payments on revolving credit facility	(20)	0	(194)	(10,700)	(17,000)
Borrowings on long-term debt	0	0	0	217,800	0
Principal payments on long-term debt	(1,100)	(15,438)	(5,975)	(120,800)	(12,138)
Deferred financing charges	0	0	0	(4,754)	0
Principal payments on direct financing lease obligations	(1,628)	(1,582)	(6,360)	(6,278)	(5,904)
Proceeds from stock rights offering	0	0	0	85,873	75,595
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3	0	222	24	16
Financing activities of consolidated affiliated partnerships:
Contributions from and distributions to noncontrolling interests, net	0	0	0	0	(1,226)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(2,745)	(10,020)	(12,307)	172,865	56,343
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(3)	289	(36)	(16)	(103)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	5,379	(9,149)	(73,146)	29,664	34,267
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	124,290	94,626	129,669	94,626	60,359
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 129,669	$ 85,477	$ 56,523	$ 124,290	$ 94,626