Senior Debt - Senior Debt (Detail) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Feb. 28, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Debt, Outstanding	$ 998,350,000		$ 1,048,350,000
Lazard Group 6.85% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Debt, Outstanding	$ 98,350,000		548,350,000
Senior Debt, Maturity Date	Jun. 15, 2017
Senior Debt, Initial Principal Amount	$ 600,000,000
Senior Debt, Annual Interest Rate	6.85%	6.85%
Lazard Group 4.25% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Debt, Outstanding	$ 500,000,000		$ 500,000,000
Senior Debt, Maturity Date	Nov. 14, 2020
Senior Debt, Initial Principal Amount	$ 500,000,000
Senior Debt, Annual Interest Rate	4.25%
Lazard Group 3.75% Senior Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Senior Debt, Outstanding	$ 400,000,000
Senior Debt, Maturity Date	Feb. 13, 2025
Senior Debt, Initial Principal Amount	$ 400,000,000	$ 400,000,000
Senior Debt, Annual Interest Rate	3.75%	3.75%

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

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 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of Notes with the highest claim on the assets of the issuer in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Senior note holders are paid off in full before any payments are made to junior note holders.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.16)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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