Note 16. Business Segment Reporting (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	$ (49,926)	$ (104,258)	$ (40,480)	$ 33,562
Restaurant | Steak n Shake
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(3,283)	10,443	1,038	30,949
Restaurant | Western
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	479	542	1,514	1,965
Restaurant | Total Restaurant Operations
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(2,804)	10,985	2,552	32,914
Operating Business
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(1,751)	9,491	5,715	28,274
Operating Business | First Guard
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	834	1,177	3,135	4,602
Operating Business | Maxim
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	45	(2,810)	(487)	(9,646)
Operating Business | Other
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	174	139	515	404
Corporate | Corporate
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(1,600)	(2,304)	(6,285)	(7,688)
Corporate | Investment Partnership Gains [Member]
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(43,859)	(108,614)	(31,589)	21,602
Corporate | Total Corporate And Investments [Member]
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(45,459)	(110,918)	(37,874)	13,914
Reconciliation Of Segments | Interest expense on notes payable and other borrowings [Member]
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	$ (2,716)	$ (2,831)	$ (8,321)	$ (8,626)