Consolidated Statements Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Beef processing services	$ 7,021,902	$ 7,396,869	$ 7,824,246
Commissions	611,574	659,002	668,801
Principal transactions	603,822	642,824	662,213
Investment banking	1,193,973	1,417,807	1,526,637
Interest income	926,255	955,240	1,052,151
Net realized securities gains	29,542	62,957	30,394
Other	488,186	549,228	570,465
Total revenues	10,875,254	11,683,927	12,334,907
Interest expense	108,703	115,804	120,935
Net revenues	10,062,617	10,886,458	11,486,485
Expenses:
Cost of sales	6,850,807	7,677,233	8,024,286
Compensation and benefits	1,730,585	1,665,465	1,841,674
Floor brokerage and clearing fees	167,205	199,780	215,329
Interest expense	108,703	115,804	120,935
Depreciation and amortization	211,593	224,133	185,993
Provision for doubtful accounts	24,580	7,353	59,695
Selling, general and other expenses	807,312	750,435	795,878
Total expenses	9,900,785	10,640,203	11,243,790
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and income related to associated companies	161,832	246,255	242,695
Income related to associated companies	154,598	110,281	138,527
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	316,430	356,536	381,222
Income tax provision	122,109	109,947	165,971
Income from continuing operations	194,321	246,589	215,251
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax provision (benefit) of $0, $231 and $(9,634)	0	429	(17,893)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax provision of $0, $2,743 and $899	0	5,093	1,667
Net income	194,321	252,111	199,025
Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interests	1,426	4,996	727
Net (income) loss attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interests	(65,746)	26,543	8,616
Preferred stock dividends	(4,063)	(4,063)	(4,062)
Net income attributable to Leucadia National Corporation common shareholders	$ 125,938	$ 279,587	$ 204,306
Basic earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Leucadia National Corporation common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations (USD per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.73	$ 0.58
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.05)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	0.01	0.01
Net income (USD per share)	0.34	0.74	0.54
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share attributable to Leucadia National Corporation common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations (USD per share)	0.34	0.73	0.58
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	0.00	(0.05)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations (USD per share)	0.00	0.01	0.01
Net income (USD per share)	$ 0.34	$ 0.74	$ 0.54
Amounts attributable to Leucadia National Corporation common shareholders:
Income from continuing operations, net of taxes	$ 125,938	$ 274,065	$ 220,584
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	429	(17,945)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	5,093	1,667
Net income attributable to Leucadia National Corporation common shareholders	125,938	279,587	204,306
Investment Banking And Capital Markets Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Interest expense	812,637	797,469	848,422
Expenses:
Interest expense	$ 812,637	$ 797,469	$ 848,422