INCOME TAX (Reconciliation of Federal Statutory Rate to Effective Tax Rate from Continuing Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2023	Aug. 31, 2022	Aug. 31, 2021
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Income tax expense at statutory rate	$ 235,613	$ 318,181	$ 112,144
State and local taxes (1)(2)	33,621	26,753	(3,838)
Research and development credit(2)	(7,986)	(13,102)	(1,289)
Foreign tax impairment on valuation of subsidiaries (3)	(7,334)	0	(29,866)
Change in valuation allowance	6,471	(447)	37,092
Global intangible low-taxed income (4)(5)	(1,967)	(685)	(17,263)
Capital loss(6)	0	(34,736)	0
Nontaxable foreign interest (3)	0	3	(14,617)
Other	3,789	548	4,264
Income tax expense	$ 262,207	$ 297,885	$ 121,153
Effective income tax rate	23.40%	19.70%	22.70%
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance	$ 280,463	$ 268,547
State
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance			$ 19,900