Nature Of Operations (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2016 facility	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016 Dealership	Mar. 10, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 08, 2015 $ / shares	Jan. 31, 2015 USD ($)
National Beef [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage interest owned in subsidiary			78.90%
Garcadia [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership owned			75.00%
Number of automobile dealerships	28			28
HomeFed Corporation [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership owned			65.00%
Foursight Capital [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage interest owned in subsidiary			100.00%
Chrome Capital [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage interest owned in subsidiary			85.00%
Linkem [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership owned			42.00%
Percentage of ownership upon conversion of note			56.00%
HRG [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding common stock owned			23.00%			23.00%
Vitesse Energy, LLC [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage interest owned in subsidiary			96.00%
Juneau Energy, LLC [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage interest owned in subsidiary			98.00%
Golden Queen Mining Company, LLC [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership owned			35.00%
Jefferies LoanCore [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership owned			48.50%
Jefferies Finance [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership owned			50.00%
FXCM [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Senior secured term loan receivable | $		$ 192.5						$ 300.0
Percentage interest owned in subsidiary					49.90%
Berkadia [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership owned			50.00%
Tanning Facility [Member] | National Beef [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Domestic facilities	1
Beef Processing Facility [Member] | National Beef [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Domestic facilities	2
Consumer-Ready Facility [Member] | National Beef [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Domestic facilities	3
Product Segment [Member] | Spectrum Brands [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding common stock owned			58.00%
Insurance Segment [Member] | Fidelity & Guaranty Life [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Percentage of outstanding common stock owned			81.00%
Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd [Member] | Fidelity & Guaranty Life [Member]
Nature Of Operations [Line Items]
Business acquisition, share price (in USD per share) | $ / shares							$ 26.80