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	1,029,481				1,042,689	1,042,689	(13,208)
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(57,395)			(57,395)		(57,395)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	113						113
Reversal of cumulative National Beef redeemable noncontrolling interests fair value adjustments prior to deconsolidation	237,669		237,669			237,669
Change in interest in consolidated subsidiary	0		2,677			2,677	(2,677)
Share-based compensation expense	37,975		37,975			37,975
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(28,136)		(28,136)			(28,136)
Consolidation of asset management entity	8,316						8,316
Exercise of options to purchase common shares	2,485	109	2,376			2,485
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(635,835)	(26,316)	(609,519)			(635,835)
Dividends	(116,690)				(116,690)	(116,690)
Other	11,977	1,396	10,581			11,977	0
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	10,646,751	331,416	4,329,661	287,745	5,672,363	10,621,185	25,566
Beginning 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]
Net income	180,635				192,635	192,635	(12,000)
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(27,228)			(27,228)		(27,228)
Share-based compensation expense	12,777		12,777			12,777
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(6,732)		(6,732)			(6,732)
Consolidation of asset management entity	8,316					0	8,316
Exercise of options to purchase common shares	2,485	109	2,376			2,485
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(49,484)	(2,067)	(47,417)			(49,484)
Dividends	(43,549)				(43,549)	(43,549)
Other	2,090	63	2,026			2,089	1
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2018	10,646,751	331,416	4,329,661	287,745	5,672,363	10,621,185	25,566
Beginning Balance at Nov. 30, 2018	10,079,257	307,515	3,854,847	288,286	5,610,218	10,060,866	18,391
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	764,811				764,052	764,052	759
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(554,738)			(554,738)		(554,738)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	6,771					0	6,771
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(2,481)					0	(2,481)
Issuance of shares for HomeFed acquisition	181,780	9,295	168,585			177,880	3,900
Share-based compensation expense	37,036		37,036			37,036
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(1,437)		(1,437)			(1,437)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(355,280)	(17,891)	(337,389)			(355,280)
Dividends	(118,956)				(118,956)	(118,956)
Other	11,018	949	10,070			11,019	(1)
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2019	10,047,781	299,868	3,731,712	(266,452)	6,255,314	10,020,442	27,339
Beginning Balance at May. 31, 2019	9,877,361	290,687	3,559,156	(242,824)	6,246,852	9,853,871	23,490
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	48,361				48,477	48,477	(116)
Other comprehensive loss, net of taxes	(23,628)			(23,628)		(23,628)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	66					0	66
Issuance of shares for HomeFed acquisition	181,780	9,295	168,585			177,880	3,900
Share-based compensation expense	12,150		12,150			12,150
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(2,558)		(2,558)			(2,558)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(8,141)	(401)	(7,740)			(8,141)
Dividends	(40,015)				(40,015)	(40,015)
Other	2,405	287	2,119			2,406	(1)
Ending Balance at Aug. 31, 2019	$ 10,047,781	$ 299,868	$ 3,731,712	$ (266,452)	$ 6,255,314	$ 10,020,442	$ 27,339