Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Net cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 158,387	$ 358,825
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operations:
Deferred income tax provision	64,313	58,673
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements	61,312	50,587
Other amortization	(2,461)	19,624
Share-based compensation	62,778	32,443
Provision for doubtful accounts	6,570	6,380
Net securities gains	(17,055)	(239,391)
Income related to associated companies	(93,273)	(94,211)
Distributions from associated companies	83,058	59,130
Net (gains) losses related to real estate, property and equipment, and other assets	(1,643)	4,780
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations	(500)	(92)
Net change in:
Cash and securities segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes or deposited with clearing and depository organizations	329,559	671,426
Trading assets	(1,468,688)	933,964
Investments in managed funds	(49,965)	4,835
Securities borrowed	(732,449)	(47,036)
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	(852,859)	106,129
Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(466,846)	(845,322)
Receivables from customers of securities operations	(756,884)	(144,938)
Other assets	(213,619)	(90,696)
Trading liabilities	1,071,678	(2,979,532)
Securities loaned	390,165	780,579
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	878,120	1,521,605
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	192,375	205,037
Payables to customers of securities operations	406,233	(18,807)
Trade payables, expense accruals and other liabilities	(158,058)	95,643
Other	(2,434)	(2,119)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(1,112,186)	447,516
Net cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, and other assets	(165,817)	(54,332)
Acquisitions of and capital expenditures for real estate investments	(1,285)	(15,993)
Proceeds from disposals of real estate, property and equipment, and other assets	7,376	18,646
Net change in restricted cash	5,000	86
Proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations, net of expenses and cash of operations sold		3,054
Cash acquired upon acquisition of Jefferies Group LLC		3,017,958
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(22,463)
Cash paid and cash of real estate operations sold to HomeFed Corporation	(18,067)
Advances on notes and other receivables		(1,907)
Collections on notes, loans and other receivables	9,789	11,470
Loans to and investments in associated companies	(947,200)	(423,059)
Capital distributions and loan repayment from associated companies	1,135,636	669,237
Deconsolidation of asset management entities	(207,965)
Purchases of investments (other than short-term)	(974,193)	(1,637,333)
Proceeds from maturities of investments	655,224	1,071,261
Proceeds from sales of investments	1,251,122	1,097,596
Other	(646)	670
Net cash provided by investing activities	726,511	3,757,354
Net cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of debt, net of issuance costs	909,709	88,947
Change in short-term borrowings		(100,000)
Reduction of debt	(167,857)	(483,357)
Net proceeds from other secured financings	5,577	105,000
Issuance of common shares	1,056	578
Cash and cash equivalents of Crimson Wine Group, Ltd. which was spun off		(21,042)
Net distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests		(6,682)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,464)	(312,450)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	9,084	3,091
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(51,050)	(23,517)
Dividends paid	(46,488)	(45,191)
Other	1,364	1,796
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	659,931	(792,827)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	4,874	(4,358)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	279,130	3,407,685
Cash and cash equivalents at January 1, including cash classified as assets of discontinued operations	3,907,595	145,960
Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, including cash classified as assets of discontinued operations	4,186,725	3,553,645
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest	517,407	238,765
Income tax payments (refunds), net	8,451	6,100
Non-cash investing activities:
Common stock issued for acquisition of Jefferies Group LLC		3,376,939
Issuance of mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred shares for acquisition of Jefferies Group LLC		125,000
Non-cash financing activities:
Net assets excluding cash and cash equivalents of Crimson Wine Group, Ltd., which was spun off		175,958
Issuance of common shares for debt conversion	$ 97,546