Note 20. Schedule of reconciliation of segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 24, 2014	Jun. 24, 2014	Mar. 25, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 26, 2013	Sep. 25, 2013	Jun. 25, 2013	Mar. 26, 2013	Dec. 27, 2012	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 24, 2014	Sep. 25, 2013
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	$ (61,477)	$ 9,050	$ (2,177)	$ 17,173		$ 13,048	$ 13,367	$ (12,263)		$ 24,864	$ 39,277	$ 169,834	$ 1,420	$ 5,930
Consolidated
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					$ 145,600				$ 28,399						$ (37,431)	$ 39,016	$ 216,461
Restaurant Operations - SteakNShake
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					10,172				9,461						39,749	26,494	28,376
Restaurant Operations - Western
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					394				329						1,849	1,765	511
Operating Businesses
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					5,977				9,811						27,586	14,239	33,635
Operating Businesses | Restaurant
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					10,566				9,790						41,598	28,259	28,887
Operating Businesses | First Guard
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					906				0						3,529	1,461	0
Operating Businesses | Maxim
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					(5,498)				0						(18,105)	(15,981)	0
Operating Businesses | Other
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					3				21						564	500	4,748
Corporate | Corporate And Other
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					(1,807)				(3,264)						(13,722)	(8,503)	(14,465)
Corporate | Investment gains (including contributions)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					0				0						0	29,524	183,774
Corporate | Investment partnerships gains
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					144,702				23,493						(39,356)	14,055	20,068
Corporate | TotalCorporateAndOtherMember
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					142,895				20,229						(53,078)	35,076	189,377
ReconciliationOfSegmentsMember | InterestExpenseMember
Earnings (loss) before income taxes					$ (3,272)				$ (1,641)						$ (11,939)	$ (10,299)	$ (6,551)