Segment and Geographic Data - Segment Information (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Jul. 01, 2012	Apr. 01, 2012	Jan. 01, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011		Jul. 03, 2011	Apr. 03, 2011	Jan. 02, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2010
Revenues:
Revenues	$ 1,196,853		$ 1,012,160	$ 1,105,654	$ 1,166,049	$ 888,541		$ 1,034,290	$ 693,885	$ 861,066	$ 4,480,716		$ 3,477,782		$ 2,567,011
Depreciation and amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization											299,520		125,926		117,471
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income	120,364		81,403	95,893	111,831	(43,953)		120,516	22,429	64,694	409,491		163,686		160,454
Interest expense											(251,032)		(249,260)		(277,015)
(Increase) decrease in fair value of equity conversion feature of preferred stock											(156,600)		27,910
Bargain purchase gain from business acquisition													158,341
Gain on contingent purchase price reduction											41,000
Other expense, net											(17,473)		(42,743)		(12,105)
Reorganization items expense															(3,646)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes											25,386		57,934		(132,312)
Capital expenditures:
Consolidated capital expenditures											53,518		38,250		40,374
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	25,200,491					23,590,888					25,200,491		23,590,888
Total long-lived assets :
Consolidated long-lived assets	2,986,517	[1]				3,059,064	[1]				2,986,517	[1]	3,059,064	[1]
Consumer products [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues											3,252,435		3,186,916		2,567,011
Depreciation and amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization											133,780		135,149		117,418
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income											301,746		227,944		168,778
Capital expenditures:
Consolidated capital expenditures											46,809		36,160		40,316
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	3,751,649					3,626,706					3,751,649		3,626,706
Total long-lived assets :
Consolidated long-lived assets	2,690,222	[1]				2,578,418	[1]				2,690,222	[1]	2,578,418	[1]
Insurance [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues											1,221,724		290,866
Depreciation and amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization											163,665		(9,430)
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income											163,783		(18,041)
Capital expenditures:
Consolidated capital expenditures											6,209		1,745
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	20,905,830					19,347,961					20,905,830		19,347,961
Total long-lived assets :
Consolidated long-lived assets	280,434	[1]				460,694	[1]				280,434	[1]	460,694	[1]
Other financial services [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues											8,694
Depreciation and amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization											55
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income											2,645
Capital expenditures:
Consolidated capital expenditures											474
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	195,057										195,057
Total long-lived assets :
Consolidated long-lived assets	449	[1]									449	[1]
Intersegment elimination [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues											(2,137)
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income											(2,137)
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	(182,069)										(182,069)
Total segments [Member]
Depreciation and amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization											297,500		125,719		117,418
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income											466,037		209,903		168,778
Capital expenditures:
Consolidated capital expenditures											53,492		37,905		40,316
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	24,670,467					22,974,667					24,670,467		22,974,667
Total long-lived assets :
Consolidated long-lived assets	2,971,105	[1]				3,039,112	[1]				2,971,105	[1]	3,039,112	[1]
Corporate Assets [Member]
Total assets:
Consolidated total assets	530,024					616,221					530,024		616,221
Corporate [Member]
Depreciation and amortization:
Consolidated depreciation and amortization											2,020		207		53
Capital expenditures:
Consolidated capital expenditures											26		345		58
Total long-lived assets :
Consolidated long-lived assets	15,412	[1]				19,952	[1]				15,412	[1]	19,952	[1]
Corporate expenses [Member]
Operating income (loss):
Consolidated operating income											$ (56,546)	[2]	$ (46,217)	[2]	$ (8,324)	[2]

[1] Total long-lived assets include all non-current assets of the Consumer Products and Other section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet and properties (included in "Other assets") and intangibles of the Insurance and Financial Services section.

[2] Included in corporate expenses are $3,770, $26,996 and $6,649 related to business acquisitions and other projects and $3,282, $4,359 and $212 related to Front Street for Fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.