Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
REVENUE
Investment banking and other advisory fees	$ 1,385,536	$ 1,298,364	$ 1,276,096
Asset management fees	1,195,550	998,887	1,036,821
Interest income	7,144	5,233	5,286
Other	109,599	81,179	86,564
Total revenue	2,697,829	2,383,663	2,404,767
Interest expense	53,518	50,292	51,159
Net revenue	2,644,311	2,333,371	2,353,608
OPERATING EXPENSES
Compensation and benefits	1,512,873	1,340,543	1,319,746
Occupancy and equipment	124,842	109,305	109,867
Marketing and business development	89,205	83,202	81,541
Technology and information services	121,671	97,461	95,528
Professional services	47,932	45,512	49,529
Fund administration and outsourced services	71,305	63,421	61,363
Amortization and other acquisition-related costs	9,514	35,247	5,821
Provision (benefit) pursuant to tax receivable agreement	(202,546)		547,691
Other	44,069	41,219	99,142
Total operating expenses	1,818,865	1,815,910	2,370,228
OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)	825,446	517,461	(16,620)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes	565,599	123,769	(1,009,552)
NET INCOME	259,847	393,692	992,932
LESS - NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	6,264	5,994	6,559
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO LAZARD LTD	$ 253,583	$ 387,698	$ 986,373
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OUTSTANDING:
Basic	121,573,442	124,770,401	125,366,272
Diluted	132,479,728	132,633,630	133,244,546
NET INCOME PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK:
Basic	$ 2.09	$ 3.11	$ 7.87
Diluted	1.91	2.92	7.40
DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE OF COMMON STOCK	$ 2.81	$ 2.69	$ 2.35