Noncontrolling Interests and Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Interests of Consolidated Subsidiaries - Noncontrolling Interests (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	May 31, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	$ 30,897	$ 117,154
Jefferies Structured Alpha Fund B, LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests		115,958
Global Equity Event Opportunity Fund LLC [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	25,543
Other [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	$ 5,354	$ 1,196

Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.31)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 27

-Article 5

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 20

-Article 7

Name:	us-gaap_MinorityInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant