Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards	Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards, adjusted balance	Subtotal	Subtotal Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards	Subtotal Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards, adjusted balance	Common Shares $1 Par Value	Common Shares $1 Par Value Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards, adjusted balance	Additional Paid-In Capital	Additional Paid-In Capital Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards, adjusted balance	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards, adjusted balance	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards	Retained Earnings Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards, adjusted balance	Noncontrolling Interests	Noncontrolling Interests Cumulative effect of the adoption of accounting standards, adjusted balance
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 1
Beginning balance at Nov. 30, 2020	$ 9,438,525	$ (19,915)	$ 9,418,610	$ 9,403,893	$ (19,915)	$ 9,383,978	$ 249,751	$ 249,751	$ 2,911,223	$ 2,911,223	$ (288,917)	$ (288,917)	$ 6,531,836	$ (19,915)	$ 6,511,921	$ 34,632	$ 34,632
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Jefferies Financial Group Inc. common shareholders	935,031			935,031									935,031
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(1,412)															(1,412)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	(75,081)			(75,081)							(75,081)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	3,434															3,434
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(13,266)															(13,266)
Share-based compensation expense	64,257			64,257					64,257
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(10,773)			(10,773)					(10,773)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(130,097)			(130,097)			(5,103)		(124,994)
Dividends	(106,839)			(106,839)									(106,839)
Other	11,500			12,158			2,384		9,774							(658)
Ending balance at May. 31, 2021	$ 10,095,364			10,072,634			247,032		2,849,487		(363,998)		7,340,113			22,730
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 1
Beginning balance at Feb. 28, 2021	$ 9,778,358			9,745,862			246,703		2,804,243		(346,544)		7,041,460			32,496
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Jefferies Financial Group Inc. common shareholders	352,596			352,596									352,596
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	(669)															(669)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	(17,454)			(17,454)							(17,454)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	3,354															3,354
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(11,793)															(11,793)
Share-based compensation expense	43,579			43,579					43,579
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(3,715)			(3,715)					(3,715)
Dividends	(53,943)			(53,943)									(53,943)
Other	5,051			5,709			329		5,380							(658)
Ending balance at May. 31, 2021	$ 10,095,364			10,072,634			247,032		2,849,487		(363,998)		7,340,113			22,730
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 1
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 1
Beginning balance at Nov. 30, 2021	$ 10,579,640			10,553,755			243,541		2,742,244		(372,143)		7,940,113			25,885
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Jefferies Financial Group Inc. common shareholders	441,461			441,461									441,461
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	127															127
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	55,166			55,166							55,166
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	63,171															63,171
Share-based compensation expense	22,999			22,999					22,999
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(13,128)			(13,128)					(13,128)
Deconsolidation of Asset Management entity	(21,221)															(21,221)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(622,223)			(622,223)			(18,051)		(604,172)
Dividends	(153,107)			(153,107)									(153,107)
Other	15,254			15,254			6,831		8,423
Ending balance at May. 31, 2022	$ 10,368,139			10,300,177			232,321		2,156,366		(316,977)		8,228,467			67,962
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 1
Beginning balance at Feb. 28, 2022	$ 10,548,919			10,490,300			240,169		2,390,787		(330,308)		8,189,652			58,619
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Jefferies Financial Group Inc. common shareholders	114,014			114,014									114,014
Net income attributable to the noncontrolling interests	1,096															1,096
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income taxes	13,331			13,331							13,331
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	29,468															29,468
Share-based compensation expense	13,253			13,253					13,253
Change in fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(5,137)			(5,137)					(5,137)
Deconsolidation of Asset Management entity	(21,221)															(21,221)
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(258,034)			(258,034)			(8,013)		(250,021)
Dividends	(75,199)			(75,199)									(75,199)
Other	7,649			7,649			165		7,484
Ending balance at May. 31, 2022	$ 10,368,139			$ 10,300,177			$ 232,321		$ 2,156,366		$ (316,977)		$ 8,228,467			$ 67,962
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common Stock, Par or Stated Value Per Share	$ 1