Nature Of Operations	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Nature Of Operations	Nature of Operations Leucadia National Corporation (“Leucadia” or the “Company”) is a diversified holding company focused on return on investment and long-term value creation to maximize shareholder value. We continuously review acquisitions of businesses, securities and assets that have the potential for significant long-term value creation, invest in a broad array of businesses, and evaluate the retention and disposition of our existing operations and holdings. Changes in the mix of our businesses and investments should be expected. Our financial services businesses and investments include Jefferies (investment banking and capital markets), Leucadia Asset Management (asset management), Berkadia (commercial mortgage banking and servicing), FXCM (a publicly traded company providing online foreign exchange trading), HomeFed (a publicly traded real estate company) and Foursight Capital and Chrome Capital (vehicle finance). We also own and have investments in a diverse array of other businesses, including National Beef (beef processing), HRG Group ("HRG"), formerly known as Harbinger (a publicly traded diversified holding company), Vitesse Energy and Juneau Energy (oil and gas exploration and development), Garcadia (automobile dealerships), Linkem (fixed wireless broadband services in Italy), Conwed Plastics and Idaho Timber (manufacturing), and Golden Queen (a gold and silver mining project). The structure of each of our investments was tailored to the unique opportunity each transaction presented. Our investments may be reflected in our consolidated results as operating subsidiaries, equity investments, receivables, securities, or in other ways, depending on the structure of our specific holdings. Jefferies is a global full-service, integrated securities and investment banking firm. In March 2013, Jefferies became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Leucadia, yet retains a separate credit rating and continues to be a separate SEC reporting company. Through Jefferies, we own 50% of Jefferies Finance LLC ("Jefferies Finance"), our joint venture with Babson Capital Management LLC and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Jefferies Finance is a commercial finance company whose primary focus is the origination and syndication of senior secured debt of middle market and growth companies in the form of term and revolving loans. Through Jefferies, we also own a 48.5% voting interest in Jefferies LoanCore, a joint venture with the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and LoanCore, LLC. Jefferies LoanCore originates, purchases and securitizes commercial real estate loans throughout the U.S. Jefferies has a November 30^th fiscal year, which it retains for standalone reporting purposes. We reflect Jefferies in our consolidated financial statements utilizing a one month lag. We have reviewed Jefferies business and internal operating results for the month of December 2015 for the purpose of evaluating whether additional financial statement disclosure or adjustments are required to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we have concluded that no additional disclosures or adjustments are warranted. Leucadia Asset Management supports and develops focused alternative asset management businesses led by distinct management teams. These primarily include Folger Hill, a multi-manager discretionary long/short equity hedge fund platform; Topwater Capital, a first-loss hedge fund; Mazama Capital Management, a long-only growth equity fund manager; and 54 Madison Capital, LLC, which targets real estate projects. After the end of 2015, we contributed an additional $33.7 million to 54 Madison for real estate projects. Our investment in FXCM Inc. ("FXCM") consists of a two-year senior secured term loan ($192.7 million outstanding at December 31, 2015), with rights to a variable proportion of certain distributions in connection with an FXCM sale of assets or certain other events, and our right to require a sale of FXCM beginning in January 2018. Berkadia, our 50-50 equity method joint venture with Berkshire Hathaway Inc., originates and brokers commercial real estate loans primarily in respect of multi-family housing units and services commercial real estate loans in the U.S. Our approximately 65% equity method interest of HomeFed, owns and develops residential and mixed use real estate properties. HomeFed is a public company traded on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board. During 2014, we sold substantially all of our standalone real estate operations to HomeFed; see Notes 11 and 29 for more information. We own 100% of Foursight Capital, an auto loan originator and servicer. We also own 83% of Chrome Capital, which provides leases on used Harley-Davidson motorcycles. We own 79% of National Beef Packing Company. National Beef processes and markets fresh and chilled boxed beef, ground beef, beef by-products, consumer-ready beef and pork, and wet blue leather for domestic and international markets. National Beef operates two beef processing facilities, three consumer-ready facilities and a wet blue tanning facility, all located in the U.S. National Beef operates one of the largest wet blue tanning facilities in the world that sells processed hides to tanners that produce finished leather for the automotive, luxury goods, apparel and furniture industries. National Beef owns Kansas City Steak Company, LLC, which sells portioned beef and other products to customers in the food service and retail channels as well as direct to consumers through the internet, direct mail and direct response television. National Beef also owns a refrigerated and livestock transportation and logistics company that provides transportation services for National Beef and third parties. We own approximately 23% of HRG, a diversified holding company that operates in four business segments: consumer products, insurance, energy and asset management. Its consumer products segment contains an approximate 58% ownership stake in Spectrum Brands, a global consumer products company. Its insurance segment includes an approximate 81% ownership stake in Fidelity & Guaranty Life ("FGL"). On November 8, 2015, FGL and Anbang Insurance Group Co., Ltd. ("Anbang") had entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Anbang will acquire FGL for $26.80 per share. HRG is a public company traded on the NYSE and we reflect this investment at fair value. Vitesse Energy, LLC is our 96% owned consolidated subsidiary that acquires and develops non-operated working and royalty oil and gas interests in the Bakken Shale oil field in North Dakota and Montana. Juneau Energy, LLC, a 98% owned consolidated subsidiary, engages in the exploration, development and production of oil and gas from onshore, unconventional resource areas. Juneau currently has interests in acreage in the Oklahoma and Texas Gulf Coast regions. Garcadia is an equity method joint venture that owns and operates 27 automobile dealerships in California, Texas, Iowa and Michigan. We own approximately 75%. We own approximately 42% of the common shares of Linkem and convertible preferred shares which, if converted, would increase our ownership to approximately 56% of Linkem's common equity. Linkem provides residential broadband services using WiMAX and LTE technologies deployed over the 3.5 GHz spectrum band. Linkem operates in Italy, which has few cable television systems and poor broadband alternatives. Linkem is accounted for under the equity method. After the end of 2015, we purchased $33.3 million (€30.5 million) of additional convertible preferred shares. If all of our convertible preferred shares were converted, we would continue to own approximately 56% of Linkem's common equity. Conwed Plastics is our consolidated subsidiary that manufactures and markets lightweight plastic netting used for building and construction, erosion and sediment control, packaging, agricultural purposes, carpet padding, filtration, consumer products and other purposes. In 2014, Conwed acquired 80% of Filtrexx, a manufacturer and marketer of a knitted sock product with numerous applications in sediment control and storm water management, and 100% of Weaver Express, the leading installer of Filtrexx's knitted sock projects. Idaho Timber is our consolidated subsidiary engaged in the manufacture and distribution of various wood products, including the following principal activities: remanufacturing dimension lumber; remanufacturing, bundling and bar coding of home center boards for large retailers; and production of pine dimension lumber and 5/4” radius-edge, pine decking. Golden Queen Mining Company, LLC owns the Soledad Mountain project, a fully-permitted, open pit, heap leach gold and silver project in Kern County, California. We and the Clay family have formed and made contributions to a limited liability company, controlled by us, through which we invested in Golden Queen Mining Company, LLC for the development and operation of the project. Our effective ownership of Golden Queen Mining Company, LLC is approximately 35% and is accounted for under the equity method. During August 2015, Jefferies sold an investment to Leucadia, for a cash payment of $124.4 million, which represented the fair value of the investment at the time of sale. This intercompany transaction had no impact on our consolidated results. On February 25, 2013, we distributed to our shareholders the common shares of the Crimson Wine Group, Ltd., a holding company through which we historically conducted our winery operations. The distribution was structured to qualify as a tax-free spin-off for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our common shareholders on the record date received one share of Crimson common stock for every ten common shares of Leucadia, with cash in lieu of fractional shares. The distribution was a condition to the Jefferies acquisition. As a result, we recorded a dividend of $197.0 million. Crimson was not reflected as a discontinued operation in our consolidated financial statements as amounts were not significant. Certain amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with the 2015 presentation.

Nature of Operations

Leucadia National Corporation (“Leucadia” or the “Company”) is a diversified holding company focused on return on investment and long-term value creation to maximize shareholder value. We continuously review acquisitions of businesses, securities and assets that have the potential for significant long-term value creation, invest in a broad array of businesses, and evaluate the retention and disposition of our existing operations and holdings. Changes in the mix of our businesses and investments should be expected.

Our financial services businesses and investments include Jefferies (investment banking and capital markets), Leucadia Asset Management (asset management), Berkadia (commercial mortgage banking and servicing), FXCM (a publicly traded company providing online foreign exchange trading), HomeFed (a publicly traded real estate company) and Foursight Capital and Chrome Capital (vehicle finance). We also own and have investments in a diverse array of other businesses, including National Beef (beef processing), HRG Group ("HRG"), formerly known as Harbinger (a publicly traded diversified holding company), Vitesse Energy and Juneau Energy (oil and gas exploration and development), Garcadia (automobile dealerships), Linkem (fixed wireless broadband services in Italy), Conwed Plastics and Idaho Timber (manufacturing), and Golden Queen (a gold and silver mining project). The structure of each of our investments was tailored to the unique opportunity each transaction presented. Our investments may be reflected in our consolidated results as operating subsidiaries, equity investments, receivables, securities, or in other ways, depending on the structure of our specific holdings.

Jefferies is a global full-service, integrated securities and investment banking firm. In March 2013, Jefferies became an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Leucadia, yet retains a separate credit rating and continues to be a separate SEC reporting company. Through Jefferies, we own 50% of Jefferies Finance LLC ("Jefferies Finance"), our joint venture with Babson Capital Management LLC and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company. Jefferies Finance is a commercial finance company whose primary focus is the origination and syndication of senior secured debt of middle market and growth companies in the form of term and revolving loans. Through Jefferies, we also own a 48.5% voting interest in Jefferies LoanCore, a joint venture with the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and LoanCore, LLC. Jefferies LoanCore originates, purchases and securitizes commercial real estate loans throughout the U.S.

Jefferies has a November 30^th fiscal year, which it retains for standalone reporting purposes. We reflect Jefferies in our consolidated financial statements utilizing a one month lag. We have reviewed Jefferies business and internal operating results for the month of December 2015 for the purpose of evaluating whether additional financial statement disclosure or adjustments are required to this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and we have concluded that no additional disclosures or adjustments are warranted.

Leucadia Asset Management supports and develops focused alternative asset management businesses led by distinct management teams. These primarily include Folger Hill, a multi-manager discretionary long/short equity hedge fund platform; Topwater Capital, a first-loss hedge fund; Mazama Capital Management, a long-only growth equity fund manager; and 54 Madison Capital, LLC, which targets real estate projects. After the end of 2015, we contributed an additional $33.7 million to 54 Madison for real estate projects.

Our investment in FXCM Inc. ("FXCM") consists of a two-year senior secured term loan ($192.7 million outstanding at December 31, 2015), with rights to a variable proportion of certain distributions in connection with an FXCM sale of assets or certain other events, and our right to require a sale of FXCM beginning in January 2018.

Berkadia, our 50-50 equity method joint venture with Berkshire Hathaway Inc., originates and brokers commercial real estate loans primarily in respect of multi-family housing units and services commercial real estate loans in the U.S.

Our approximately 65% equity method interest of HomeFed, owns and develops residential and mixed use real estate properties. HomeFed is a public company traded on the NASD OTC Bulletin Board. During 2014, we sold substantially all of our standalone real estate operations to HomeFed; see Notes 11 and 29 for more information.

We own 100% of Foursight Capital, an auto loan originator and servicer. We also own 83% of Chrome Capital, which provides leases on used Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

We own 79% of National Beef Packing Company. National Beef processes and markets fresh and chilled boxed beef, ground beef, beef by-products, consumer-ready beef and pork, and wet blue leather for domestic and international markets. National Beef operates two beef processing facilities, three consumer-ready facilities and a wet blue tanning facility, all located in the U.S. National Beef operates one of the largest wet blue tanning facilities in the world that sells processed hides to tanners that produce finished leather for the automotive, luxury goods, apparel and furniture industries. National Beef owns Kansas City Steak Company, LLC, which sells portioned beef and other products to customers in the food service and retail channels as well as direct to consumers through the internet, direct mail and direct response television. National Beef also owns a refrigerated and livestock transportation and logistics company that provides transportation services for National Beef and third parties.

We own approximately 23% of HRG, a diversified holding company that operates in four business segments: consumer products, insurance, energy and asset management. Its consumer products segment contains an approximate 58% ownership stake in Spectrum Brands, a global consumer products company. Its insurance segment includes an approximate 81% ownership stake in Fidelity & Guaranty Life ("FGL"). On November 8, 2015, FGL and Anbang Insurance Group Co., Ltd. ("Anbang") had entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Anbang will acquire FGL for $26.80 per share. HRG is a public company traded on the NYSE and we reflect this investment at fair value.

Vitesse Energy, LLC is our 96% owned consolidated subsidiary that acquires and develops non-operated working and royalty oil and gas interests in the Bakken Shale oil field in North Dakota and Montana.

Juneau Energy, LLC, a 98% owned consolidated subsidiary, engages in the exploration, development and production of oil and gas from onshore, unconventional resource areas. Juneau currently has interests in acreage in the Oklahoma and Texas Gulf Coast regions.

Garcadia is an equity method joint venture that owns and operates 27 automobile dealerships in California, Texas, Iowa and Michigan. We own approximately 75%.

We own approximately 42% of the common shares of Linkem and convertible preferred shares which, if converted, would increase our ownership to approximately 56% of Linkem's common equity. Linkem provides residential broadband services using WiMAX and LTE technologies deployed over the 3.5 GHz spectrum band. Linkem operates in Italy, which has few cable television systems and poor broadband alternatives. Linkem is accounted for under the equity method. After the end of 2015, we purchased $33.3 million (€30.5 million) of additional convertible preferred shares. If all of our convertible preferred shares were converted, we would continue to own approximately 56% of Linkem's common equity.

Conwed Plastics is our consolidated subsidiary that manufactures and markets lightweight plastic netting used for building and construction, erosion and sediment control, packaging, agricultural purposes, carpet padding, filtration, consumer products and other purposes. In 2014, Conwed acquired 80% of Filtrexx, a manufacturer and marketer of a knitted sock product with numerous applications in sediment control and storm water management, and 100% of Weaver Express, the leading installer of Filtrexx's knitted sock projects.

Idaho Timber is our consolidated subsidiary engaged in the manufacture and distribution of various wood products, including the following principal activities: remanufacturing dimension lumber; remanufacturing, bundling and bar coding of home center boards for large retailers; and production of pine dimension lumber and 5/4” radius-edge, pine decking.

Golden Queen Mining Company, LLC owns the Soledad Mountain project, a fully-permitted, open pit, heap leach gold and silver project in Kern County, California. We and the Clay family have formed and made contributions to a limited liability company, controlled by us, through which we invested in Golden Queen Mining Company, LLC for the development and operation of the project. Our effective ownership of Golden Queen Mining Company, LLC is approximately 35% and is accounted for under the equity method.

During August 2015, Jefferies sold an investment to Leucadia, for a cash payment of $124.4 million, which represented the fair value of the investment at the time of sale. This intercompany transaction had no impact on our consolidated results.

On February 25, 2013, we distributed to our shareholders the common shares of the Crimson Wine Group, Ltd., a holding company through which we historically conducted our winery operations. The distribution was structured to qualify as a tax-free spin-off for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our common shareholders on the record date received one share of Crimson common stock for every ten common shares of Leucadia, with cash in lieu of fractional shares. The distribution was a condition to the Jefferies acquisition. As a result, we recorded a dividend of $197.0 million. Crimson was not reflected as a discontinued operation in our consolidated financial statements as amounts were not significant.

Certain amounts have been reclassified to be consistent with the 2015 presentation.