Note 17. Business Segment Reporting (Details 1) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended										12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 24, 2014
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	$ 112,701	$ (104,258)	$ 57,079	$ 80,741	$ (61,477)	$ 9,050	$ (2,177)	$ 17,173
Consolidated
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									$ 145,600	$ 28,399	$ 146,263	$ (37,431)	$ 39,016
Restaurant Operations - SteakNShake
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									10,172	9,461	34,717	39,749	26,494
Restaurant Operations - Western
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									394	329	2,506	1,849	1,765
Interest Expense on Notes Payable and Other Borrowings
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(3,272)	(1,641)	(11,450)	(11,930)	(10,299)
Operating Businesses
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									5,977	9,811	32,374	27,586	14,239
Operating Businesses | Restaurant
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									10,566	9,790	37,223	41,598	28,259
Operating Businesses | First Guard
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									906	0	5,135	3,529	1,461
Operating Businesses | Maxim
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(5,498)	0	(10,078)	(18,105)	(15,981)
Operating Businesses | Other
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									3	21	94	564	500
Corporate and Investments | Corporate
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									(1,807)	(3,264)	(10,241)	(13,731)	(8,503)
Corporate and Investments | Gains (losses) on contibutions to partnerships
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									0	0	(306)	0	29,524
Corporate and Investments | Investment partnerships gains (loss)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									144,702	23,493	135,886	(39,356)	14,055
Corporate and Investments | Total Corporate
Earnings (loss) before income taxes									$ 142,895	$ 20,229	$ 125,339	$ (53,087)	$ 35,076