Consolidated Statements of Changes In Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Shares $1 Par Value	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Subtotal	Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards	$ 17,812			$ (27,584)	$ 45,396	$ 17,812
Beginning Balance, Adjusted	10,156,791	$ 356,227	$ 4,676,038	345,140	4,746,364	10,123,769	$ 33,022
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	10,138,979	356,227	4,676,038	372,724	4,700,968	10,105,957	33,022
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	848,846				850,054	850,054	(1,208)
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(30,167)			(30,167)		(30,167)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	113						113
Change in interest in consolidated subsidiary	0		2,677			2,677	(2,677)
Reversal of cumulative National Beef redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value adjustments prior to deconsolidation	237,669		237,669			237,669
Share-based compensation expense	25,198		25,198			25,198
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(21,404)		(21,404)			(21,404)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(586,351)	(24,249)	(562,102)			(586,351)
Dividends	(73,141)				(73,141)	(73,141)
Other	9,887	1,333	8,555			9,888	(1)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	10,567,441	333,311	4,366,631	314,973	5,523,277	10,538,192	29,249
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, Adjusted	10,288,128	357,216	4,711,218	357,317	4,833,329	10,259,080	29,048
Net income	725,665				725,529	725,529	136
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(42,344)			(42,344)		(42,344)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	113					0	113
Reversal of cumulative National Beef redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value adjustments prior to deconsolidation	237,669		237,669			237,669
Share-based compensation expense	12,767		12,767			12,767
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(38,471)		(38,471)			(38,471)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(583,651)	(24,149)	(559,502)			(583,651)
Dividends	(35,581)				(35,581)	(35,581)
Other	3,146	244	2,950			3,194	(48)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2018	10,567,441	333,311	4,366,631	314,973	5,523,277	10,538,192	29,249
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, Adjusted	10,567,441	333,311	4,366,631	314,973	5,523,277	10,538,192	29,249
Beginning Balance, Adjusted	10,079,257	307,515	3,854,847	288,286	5,610,218	10,060,866	18,391
Beginning Balance at Nov. 30, 2018	10,079,257
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	716,450				715,575	715,575	875
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(531,110)			(531,110)		(531,110)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	6,705					0	6,705
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,481)					0	(2,481)
Share-based compensation expense	24,886		24,886			24,886
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,121		1,121			1,121
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(347,139)	(17,490)	(329,649)			(347,139)
Dividends	(78,941)				(78,941)	(78,941)
Other	8,613	662	7,951			8,613	0
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2019	9,877,361
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, Adjusted	9,956,133	298,313	3,681,085	338,619	5,614,935	9,932,952	23,181
Net income	670,573				670,764	670,764	(191)
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(581,443)			(581,443)		(581,443)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	2,000					0	2,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,500)					0	(1,500)
Share-based compensation expense	13,073		13,073			13,073
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	1,657		1,657			1,657
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(150,046)	(7,762)	(142,284)			(150,046)
Dividends	(38,847)				(38,847)	(38,847)
Other	5,761	136	5,625			5,761	0
Ending Balance at May. 31, 2019	9,877,361
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance, Adjusted	$ 9,877,361	$ 290,687	$ 3,559,156	$ (242,824)	$ 6,246,852	$ 9,853,871	$ 23,490