Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 218,649	$ 373,208
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used for) operations:
Deferred income tax provision	124,099	72,858
Depreciation and amortization of property, equipment and leasehold improvements	92,189	80,688
Other amortization	3,956	24,270
Share-based compensation	87,493	60,218
Provision for doubtful accounts	10,131	10,851
Net securities gains	(20,903)	(244,378)
Income related to associated companies	(157,937)	(144,753)
Distributions from associated companies	130,930	92,582
Net (gains) losses related to real estate, property and equipment, and other assets	(29,584)	5,752
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations	(12,592)	(6,492)
Net change in:
Cash and securities segregated and on deposit for regulatory purposes or deposited with clearing and depository organizations	316,049	269,786
Trading assets	(2,781,472)	2,508,548
Investments in managed funds	(82,776)	4,079
Securities borrowed	(908,113)	(5,251)
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	(820,235)	(846,206)
Receivables from brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	(298,153)	(300,959)
Receivables from customers of securities operations	(612,457)	(51,942)
Other assets	(242,362)	(85,601)
Trading liabilities	2,634,241	(3,127,918)
Securities loaned	(40,086)	679,305
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	(252,215)	2,894,054
Payables to brokers, dealers and clearing organizations	638,448	(727,408)
Payables to customers of securities operations	730,493	(607,034)
Trade payables, expense accruals and other liabilities	40,912	12,811
Other	(32,979)	(2,335)
Net cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(1,264,274)	938,733
Net cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of property, equipment and leasehold improvements, and other assets	(468,669)	(89,387)
Acquisitions of and capital expenditures for real estate investments	(2,112)	(18,012)
Proceeds from disposals of real estate, property and equipment, and other assets	49,628	21,930
Net change in restricted cash	5,000	86
Proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations, net of expenses and cash of operations sold	223,373	3,965
Cash acquired upon acquisition of Jefferies Group LLC		3,017,958
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(59,378)
Cash paid and cash of real estate operations sold to HomeFed Corporation	(19,730)
Advances on notes and other receivables	(8,500)	(1,934)
Collections on notes, loans and other receivables	19,240	15,659
Loans to and investments in associated companies	(1,320,588)	(1,199,290)
Capital distributions and loan repayment from associated companies	1,301,118	1,380,925
Deconsolidation of asset management entities	(207,965)
Purchases of investments (other than short-term)	(1,473,934)	(1,987,973)
Proceeds from maturities of investments	920,949	1,679,127
Proceeds from sales of investments	1,542,798	1,572,221
Other	1,212	322
Net cash provided by investing activities	502,442	4,395,597
Net cash flows from financing activities:
Issuance of debt, net of issuance costs	1,001,510	849,842
Change in short-term borrowings	80,000	(50,000)
Reduction of debt	(394,985)	(1,554,564)
Net proceeds from other secured financings	494,627	105,000
Issuance of common shares	1,295	2,068
Cash and cash equivalents of Crimson Wine Group, Ltd. which was spun off		(21,042)
Net distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(2,765)	(8,073)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,152)	(313,574)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	44,557	20,765
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(54,190)	(31,188)
Dividends paid	(69,785)	(68,283)
Other	1,640	2,358
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	1,099,752	(1,066,691)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash	2,363	(3,506)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	340,283	4,264,133
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 September 30, including cash classified as assets of discontinued operations	4,247,878	4,410,093
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Interest	833,594	521,394
Income tax payments (refunds), net	5,475	42,395
Non-cash investing activities:
Common stock issued for acquisition of Jefferies Group LLC		3,385,699
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