Long-Term Debt - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			0 Months Ended		0 Months Ended			3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2013	Aug. 26, 2011	Mar. 13, 2014 Leucadia [Member] Subsequent event [Member]	Jan. 15, 2013 New senior unsecured long-term debt [Member]	Jan. 15, 2013 5.125% Senior Notes, due 2023 [Member]	Jan. 15, 2013 6.5% Senior Notes, due 2043 [Member]	Feb. 28, 2014 3.875% Convertible Senior Debentures, due 2029 [Member]	Feb. 28, 2014 3.875% Convertible Senior Debentures, due 2029 [Member] Leucadia [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt at fair value		$ 6,100,000,000
Difference between fair value over the total principal amount		536,500,000
Issuance of senior unsecured long-term debt					1,000,000,000	600,000,000	400,000,000	345,000,000
Proceeds, net of original issue discount amount						595,600,000	391,700,000
Senior long-term debt, interest rate						5.125%	6.50%	3.875%	3.875%
Senior long-term debt, due date						2023	2043
Debenture principal amount				1,000
Debt instrument convertible conversion ratio				22.0242
Conversion price of common stock				$ 45.40
Debt instrument convertible conversion ratio									130.00%
Earliest period of conversion price									20 days
Latest period of conversion price									30 days
Consecutive trading days									10 days
Trading price per debenture related to common stock									95.00%
Debentures convertible at holder's options									1) Leucadia's common stock price is greater than or equal to 130% of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days; 2) if the trading price per debenture is less than 95% of the price of the common stock times the conversion ratio for any 10 consecutive trading days; 3) if the debentures are called for redemption; or 4) upon the occurrence of specific corporate actions.
Description to redeem the debentures for par, plus accrued interest									On or after November 1, 2012 if the price of Leucadia's common stock is greater than 130% of the conversion price for at least 20 days in a period of 30 consecutive trading days and we may redeem the debentures for par, plus accrued interest, at our election any time on or after November 1, 2017.
Description of contingent debenture interest payment									November 1, 2017, 2019 and 2024. In addition to ordinary interest, commencing November 1, 2017, contingent interest will accrue at 0.375% if the average trading price of a debenture for 5 trading days ending on and including the third trading day immediately preceding a six-month interest period equals or exceed $1,200 per $1,000 debenture.
Trading price of contingent interest									1,200
Revolving credit facility	950,000,000		950,000,000
Borrowed unsecured credit facility-JBL			$ 250,000,000
Credit Facility terminates date	Aug. 26, 2014
Extended maturity of Credit Facility	August 2014