Segment Information (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Oct. 01, 2018	Jun. 05, 2018	Jun. 04, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 23,018		$ 21,498
Parent Company interest
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 14,800		14,700
Discontinued operations, disposed of by sale | National Beef
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage					48.00%
Disposal group, disposed of by sale, not discontinued operations | Garcadia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity method investment for sale		100.00%
National Beef
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Ownership percentage						79.00%
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	31.00%				31.00%
Berkadia
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage				50.00%
Merchant Banking | Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Interest expense	$ 8,300		$ 6,800