Mezzanine Equity - Schedule of Redeemable noncontrolling interests activity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				$ 336,809					$ 336,809
Income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 20,038	$ 36,216	$ 16,300	12,022	$ 25,662	$ 22,702	$ 13,068	$ 4,314	84,576	$ 65,746	$ (26,543)
Increase in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests charged to additional paid-in capital									(94,937)	(115,963)	(26,325)
Ending balance	426,593				336,809				426,593	336,809
National Beef
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance				$ 321,962				$ 189,358	321,962	189,358
Income allocated to redeemable noncontrolling interests									85,277	68,811
Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests									(90,048)	(53,701)
Increase in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests charged to additional paid-in capital									94,937	117,494
Ending balance	$ 412,128				$ 321,962				$ 412,128	$ 321,962	$ 189,358