Segment Information (Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information, By Segment) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	$ 2,141,645	$ 753,441	$ 4,565,933	$ 1,037,475
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(278,624)	293,252	481,729	328,610
Depreciation and amortization expenses	43,616	21,235	85,894	41,780
Beef Processing Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	1,913,666		3,705,645
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	46,937		29,340
Depreciation and amortization expenses	20,757		41,065
Idaho Timber [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	40,579	41,773	81,708	82,013
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,962	(2,011)	4,330	(1,995)
Depreciation and amortization expenses	1,334	1,323	2,662	2,644
Conwed Plastics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	22,991	22,870	43,589	46,439
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	2,953	1,740	5,400	5,030
Depreciation and amortization expenses	1,351	1,687	2,686	3,483
Oil And Gas Drilling Services [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	31,852	32,119	70,879	64,203
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(4,460)	532	(2,407)	4,103
Depreciation and amortization expenses	4,938	5,290	10,141	10,583
Gaming Entertainment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	29,642	30,520	61,715	61,302
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	1,721	2,697	5,984	8,493
Depreciation and amortization expenses	4,269	4,140	8,514	8,384
Domestic Real Estate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	3,409	3,368	6,830	88,751
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(2,073)	(44)	(3,182)	81,273
Depreciation and amortization expenses	868	845	1,743	1,748
Medical Product Development [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	125	82	199	173
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(11,252)	(9,449)	(21,305)	(13,443)
Depreciation and amortization expenses	213	212	423	421
Other Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	17,686	14,639	36,651	30,746
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(7,219)	(7,422)	(9,320)	(13,993)
Depreciation and amortization expenses	2,732	2,105	5,524	4,033
Associated Companies [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	(350,216)	(225,940)	51,692	(270,112)
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues and other income	81,695	608,070	558,717	663,848
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	43,023	533,149	421,197	529,254
Depreciation and amortization expenses	$ 7,154	$ 5,633	$ 13,136	$ 10,484