Right to Operate Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] Franchise Agreement Other Intangible assets with indefinite lives Steak n Shake Business Segments [Axis] Western Total Restaurant Operations Management fees Consolidated affiliated partnerships Total Investment Management Operations Total Revenue Restaurant Operations Products and Services [Axis] Steak N Shake Income Statement Location [Axis] InvestmentManagement IncentiveFee ManagementFees Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships Corporate Corporate And Other Investment And Derivative Gains Losses TotalCorporateAndOtherMember ReconciliationOfSegmentsMember ConsolidationEliminationsMember InterestExpenseMember Common Stock Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Treasury Stock Resturant Retail Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping, Disclosure Item Amounts [Axis] Level 1 Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Level 2 Level 3 Others Non Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan Investments Document And Entity Information Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Is Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer? Is Entity a Voluntary Filer? Is Entity's Reporting Status Current? Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Fiscal Year Focus Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Investments Receivables, net of allowance of $742 and $559, respectively Inventories Deferred income taxes Assets held for sale Other current assets Total current assets Property and equipment, net Goodwill Other intangible assets, net Other assets Investments held by consolidated affiliated partnerships Total assets Current liabilities: Accounts payable Due to broker Accrued expenses Revolving credit Deferred income taxes Current portion of obligations under leases Current portion of long-term debt Total current liabilities Deferred income taxes Obligations under leases Long-term debt Other long-term liabilities Total liabilities Commitments and contingencies Redeemable noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliated partnerships Shareholders' equity Common stock - $0.50 stated value, 2,500,000 shares authorized - 1,511,174 shares issued, 1,227,558 and 1,227,276 shares outstanding (net of treasury stock), respectively Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Treasury stock - at cost: 283,616 and 283,898 shares (includes 205,743 shares held by consolidated affiliated partnerships) at April 11, 2012 and September 28, 2011, respectively Biglari Holdings Inc. shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Assets Receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts Common stock, par value Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares outstanding Treasury stock - at cost, shares Partnership Member Treasury stock - at cost, shares held by consolidated affiliated partnerships Income Statement [Abstract] Restaurant Operations: Net sales Franchise fees Other revenue Total Investment Management Operations: Management fee income Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships: Investment gains/losses Other income/loss Total Total net revenues Costs and expenses Cost of sales Restaurant operating costs General and administrative Depreciation and amortization Marketing Rent Pre-opening costs Asset impairments and provision for restaurant closings Loss on disposal of assets Other operating income Total costs and expenses, net Other income (expenses) Interest, dividend and other investment income Interest on obligations under leases Interest expense Realized investment gains/losses Derivative and short sale gains/losses Total other income (expense) Earnings before income taxes Income taxes Consolidated net earnings Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest Earnings attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests: Income allocation Incentive fee Total earnings/loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc. Earnings per share attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc. Basic earnings per common and common equivalent share Diluted earnings per common and common equivalent share Weighted average shares and equivalents Basic Diluted Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Cash flows from operating activities Net earnings Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows (excluding investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships): Provision for deferred income taxes Stock-based compensation and other non-cash expenses Gain on sale of subsidiary Realized investment gains/losses Derivative and short sale gains/losses Changes in operating assets and liabilities Increase in receivables and inventories (Increase) decrease in other assets Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses Investment operations of consolidated affiliated partnerships: Purchases of investments Sales of investments Realized investment gains, net Unrealized gains on marketable securities held by consolidated affiliated partnerships Changes in cash equivalents held by consolidated affiliated partnerships Changes in due to/from broker and cash and cash equivalents held by consolidated affiliated partnerships Net cash provided by operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Additions of property and equipment Proceeds from property and equipment disposals Proceeds from sale of joint venture Proceeds from sale of subsidiary, net of cash on hand Purchases of investments Sales of investments Changes in due to/from broker Cash from merger activities Net cash used in by investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from revolving credit facility Payments on revolving credit facility Borrowings on long-term debt Principal payments on long-term debt Proceeds from property sale-leasebacks Principal payments on direct financing lease obligations Proceeds from exercise of stock options and employees stock purchase plan Excess tax benefits from stock-based awards Cash paid in lieu of fractional shares Repurchase of employee shares for tax withholding Financing activities of consolidated affiliated partnerships: Purchase of shares of Company stock by consolidated affiliated partnerships Proceeds from sale of shares of Company stock by consolidated affiliated partnerships Contributions from noncontrolling interests Distributions to noncontrolling interests Net cash used in financing activities Decrease in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Beginning Balance Net earnings attributable to Biglari Holdings Inc. Reclassification of investment appreciation in net earnings, net of tax Net change in unrealized gains and losses on investments, net of tax Total comprehensive income Exercise of stock options and other stock compensation transactions Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interest to reflect maximum redemption value Ending Balance Changes In Shareholders Equity Parenthetical Reclassification of investment appreciation in net earnings, tax Net change in unrealized gains and losses on investments, tax Notes to Financial Statements 1. General 2. New Accounting Standards 3. Earnings Per Share 4. Investments 5. Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships 6. Assets Held for Sale 7. Other Current Assets 8. Property and Equipment 9. Goodwill and Other Intangibles 10. Other Assets 11. Borrowings 12. Other Long-term Liabilities 13. Income Taxes 14. Commitments and Contingencies 15. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities 16. Related Party Transactions Business Segment Reporting Reconcilation of shares outstanding Schedule of fair value of investments Schedule of investment gains/losses Tabular disclosure of available-for-sale securities at cost and fair market value of consolidated affiliated partnerships. Tabular disclosure of realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of consolidated affiliated partnerships reported in the statement of income. Tabular disclosure of redeemable noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliated partnerships reported in the balance sheet. Schedule of assets held for sale Schedule Of Property, Plant And Equipment Schedule Of Definite and Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Schedule Of Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Reconciliation of assets measured using Level 3 inputs Schedule Of Net Revenue by Segment Schedule of reconciliation of segments to consolidated Basic earnings per share: Weighted average common shares Diluted earnings per share: Dilutive effect of stock awards Weighted average common and incremental shares Number of share-based awards excluded from the calculation of earnings per share as the awards' exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the Company's common stock Cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair value Gross realized gains on sales Gross realized losses on sales Equity securities: Cost Fair value Schedule of investments of Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships Net unrealized gains/losses Net realized gains/losses from sale Carrying value at beginning of period Distributions to noncontrolling interests Incentive fee Income / loss allocation Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interest to reflect maximum redemption value Carrying value at end of period Cost of consolidated affiliated partnerships' holdings of the Company's common stock Consolidated affiliated partnerships' holdings of the Company's common stock Company's initial investment in consolidated affiliated partnerships Fair value of the Company's investment in consolidated affiliated partnerships Company's pro rata ownership of Company common stock through consolidated affiliated partnerships Fair value of the Company's pro rata ownership of Company common stock through consolidated affiliated partnerships Distribution of funds from liquidation of consolidated affiliated partnerships Non-cash distribution of funds from liquidation of consolidated affiliated partnerships Net earnings after tax of consolidated affiliated partnerships Net earnings after tax of consolidated affiliated partnerships attributable to noncontrolling interest Restricted cash included in investments held by consolidated affiliated partnerships Redeemable noncontrolling interest General partner incentive fee earned Elimination of incentive fee earned for consolidation Incentive fee on a consolidated basis Land and buildings Improvements Total assets held for sale Schedule Of Assets Held For Sale In Numbers Details Number of office buildings included in assets held for sale Number of restaurants included in assets held for sale Number of land parcels included in assets held for sale Land Buildings Land and leasehold improvements Equipment Construction in progress Property and equipment, gross Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Gross carrying amount Accumulated amortization Net definite-lived intangible assets Intangible assets with indefinite lives Total intangible assets Amortization expense Future amortization expense for each of the next five years Estimated weighted average useful life of definite-lived intangible assets Effective tax rate Unrecognized tax benefits Equity Securities Equity Securities Held by Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships Fair value Securities Held by Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships Other Assets Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Plan Investments Cash equivalents Investments held by consolidated affiliated partnerships Total assets at fair value Liabilities Interest rate swaps Beginning of period balance Sale of Assets Loss included in earnings End of period balance Fair value of related party investments in consolidated affiliated partnerships Net Revenue Earnings before income taxes Assets, Current Assets [Default Label] Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Current Liabilities, Current Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent Liabilities [Default Label] Treasury Stock, Value Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Liabilities and Equity Revenue, Net Gains (Losses) on Sales of Other Assets Other Operating Income (Expense), Net Costs and Expenses InterestOnObligationsUnderLeases Interest Expense Nonoperating Income (Expense) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest IncentiveFeeReallocation Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Gain (Loss) on Sale of Stock in Subsidiary IncreaseDecreaseinReceivablesAndInventories Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Payments for Purchase of Securities, Operating Activities Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Securities ChangesInCashEquivalentsHeldByConsolidatedAffiliatedPartnerships Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Payments to Acquire Investments Proceeds from Sale of Available-for-sale Securities Payments for (Proceeds from) Businesses and Interest in Affiliates Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Repayments of Lines of Credit Repayments of Long-term Debt PrincipalPaymentsOnDirectFinancingLeaseObligations CashPaidInlieuOfFractionalShares Payments Related to Tax Withholding for Share-based Compensation PurchaseofShareSofCompanyStockbyConsolidatedAffiliatedPartnerships Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities AvailableForSaleSecuritiesOfConsolidatedAffiliatedPartnershipsAmortizedCost AvailableForSaleSecuritiesOfConsolidatedAffiliatedPartnershipsFairValueDisclosure Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) InvestmentsHeldByConsolidatedAffiliatedPartnershipsFairValueDisclosure Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Value Total investments held by partnerships of subsidiaries required to be consolidated into the the parent company's financials because the parent company is either the general partner or has significant control over the partnerships. Current portion (payable within one year) as of the balance sheet date on all financing and capital leases held by the Company. Noncurrent portion (payable in greater than one year) as of the balance sheet date on all financing and capital leases held by the Company. Number of common shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by consolidated affiliated partnerships of the issuing entity required to be consolidated into the Company's financials because the Company is either the general partner or has significant control over the partnerships. This stock maintains all voting and dividend rights. The aggregate amount of interest expense incurred on financing and capital lease obligations. The portion of net income or loss attributable to the redeemable noncontrolling interest deducted in order to derive the portion attributable to the parent. The portion of incentive fee allocation charged to nonaffiliated entities in the limited partnerships. The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the aggregate value of all inventory and all receivables held by the reporting entity, associated with underlying transactions that are classified as operating activities. The cash outflow for principal payments made on direct financing lease obligations. The entire disclosure for a consolidated afiliated partnerships. Tabular disclosure of available-for-sale securities at cost and fair market value of consolidated affiliated partnerships. Tabular disclosure of realized and unrealized gains and losses on investments of consolidated affiliated partnerships reported in the statement of income. Tabular disclosure of redeemable noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliated partnerships reported in the balance sheet. Cost of shares held by consolidated affiliated partnerships. Number of shares held by consolidated affiliated partnerships. This item represents the net unrealized gains for securities, at a point in time, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. This item represents the net profit realized on the sale of debt or equity securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading securities. Net amount paid to managing member or general partner for incentive rights held after elimination of related party incentive fee. Tabular disclosure of current assets held for sale The lower of the carrying value or fair value less cost to sell of land and buildings held for sale Number of buildings included in current assets held for sale. Number of restaurants included in current assets held for sale. Number of land parcels included in current assets held for sale. Disclosure of amortization expense expected to be recognized during each of the next five years for assets, excluding financial assets and goodwill, lacking physical substance with a finite life. This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This element represents the fair value of assets categorized as Investments held by consolidated affiliated partnerships. Fair value of related party investments in consolidated affiliated partnerships. Estimated weighted average useful life of definite-lived intangible assets. Cost of the Company's investment in consolidated affiliated partnerships Fair value of the Company's investment in consolidated affiliated partnerships Number of pro rata shares owned of the Company's common stock through consolidated affiliated partnerships Fair value of pro rata shares owned of the Company's common stock through consolidated affiliated partnerships. The noncash portion of the distribution of liquidating funds from consolidated affiliated partnerships. Net after tax earnings of consolidated affiliated partnerships. Net after tax earnings of consolidated affiliated partnerships attributable to the noncontrolling interest. Cash balance included in investments held by consolidated affiliated partnerships that is only available for use by the consolidated affiliated partnerships. Amount paid to managing member or general partner for incentive rights held which is eliminated in consolidation due to the Company's ownership of the general partner. Schedule of Segment Reporting Information, by Segment Table Text Block Available For Sale Securities Of Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships Amortized Cost Available For Sale Securities Of Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships Fair Value Disclosure Available For Sale Securities Of Consolidated Affiliated Partnerships Fair Value Disclosure