Common Stock Equity Components [Axis] Additional Paid-In Capital Retained Earnings Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Treasury Stock Franchise Agreement Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets by Major Class [Axis] Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Member] Asset Class [Axis] Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Member] Trade names [Member] Level 1 Fair Value, Hierarchy [Axis] Level 2 Level 3 Restaurant Products and Services [Axis] Steak n Shake Income Statement Location [Axis] Western Total Restaurant Operations Reconciliation Of Segments Interest Expense [Member] Steak n Shake Business Segments [Axis] Total Revenue Lion Fund Related Party [Axis] Lion Fund II Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Other Comprehensive Income Location [Axis] Investment Gain (Loss) Fair Value Securities Financing Transaction [Axis] Company common Stock Carrying Value Steak n Shake Agreement 2014 [Member] Derivative Instrument [Axis] Insurance Premiums and other [Member] Reclassification of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Axis] Income Tax Expense (benefit) [Member] Term Loan Debt Instrument [Axis] Investment partnership gains (losses) Other First Guard Maxim Operating Business Corporate Investment Partnership Gains (Losses) [Member] Other Total Corporate And Investments [Member] Corporate 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] Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents Investments Receivables Inventories Deferred taxes Other current assets Total current assets Property and equipment Goodwill Other intangible assets Investment partnerships Other assets Total assets Liabilities and shareholders' equity Liabilities Current liabilities: Accounts payable Accrued expenses Current portion of notes payable and other borrowings Total current liabilities Long-term notes payable and other borrowings Deferred taxes Other liabilities Total liabilities Shareholders' equity Common stock - 2,066,864 and 2,066,691 shares outstanding Additional paid-in capital Retained earnings Accumulated other comprehensive loss Treasury stock, at cost Biglari Holdings Inc. shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Common stock, shares outstanding Income Statement [Abstract] Revenues Restaurant operations Insurance premiums and other Media advertising and other Total Revenues Cost and expenses Restaurant cost of sales Insurance losses and underwriting expenses Media cost of sales Selling, general and administrative Depreciation and amortization Total cost and expenses Other income (expenses) Interest and dividends Interest expense Interest on obligations under leases Investment gains (including contributions) Investment partnership gains (losses) Total other income (loss) Earnings (loss) before income taxes Income tax expense (benefit) Net earnings Earnings per share Basic earnings per common share Diluted earnings per common share Weighted average shares and equivalents Basic Diluted Consolidated Statements Of Comprehensive Income Net earnings Other comprehensive income: Net change in unrealized gains and losses on investments Applicable income taxes Reclassification of investment (appreciation) depreciation in net earnings Applicable income taxes Reclassification of investment appreciation on contribution to investment partnerships Applicable income taxes Foreign currency translation Other comprehensive income (loss), net Total comprehensive income Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract] Operating activities Net earnings Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to operating cash flows: Provision for deferred income taxes Asset impairments and other non-cash expenses Loss on disposal of assets Realized investment (gains) losses Investment partnership gains Gain on contributions to investment partnerships Distributions from investment partnerships Changes in receivables and inventories Changes in other assets Changes in accounts payable and accrued expenses Net cash provided by operating activities Investing activities Additions of property and equipment Proceeds from property and equipment disposals Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired Purchases of investments Redemptions of fixed maturity securities Changes in restricted assets Net cash used in investing activities Financing activities Proceeds from revolving credit facility Payments on revolving credit facility Borrowings on long-term debt Principal payments on long-term debt Deferred financing costs Principal payments on direct financing lease obligations Proceeds from stock rights offering Proceeds from exercise of stock options Net cash used in financing activities Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents at end of second quarter Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Balance Other comprehensive loss, net Adjustment to treasury stock for holdings in investment partnerships Issuance of stock for rights offering Exercise of stock options Balance Accounting Policies [Abstract] Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Note 2. New Accounting Standards Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Note 3. Earnings Per Share Schedule of Investments [Abstract] Note 4. Investments Note 5. Investment Partnerships Note 5. Investment Partnerships Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] Note 6. Property and Equipment Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] Note 7. Goodwill and Other Intangibles Note 8. Restaurant Operations Revenues Note 8. Restaurant Operations Revenues Debt Disclosure [Abstract] Note 9. Borrowings Equity [Abstract] Note 10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] Note 11. Income Taxes Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] Note 12. Commitments and Contingencies Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract] Note 13. Fair Value of Financial Assets and Liabilities Related Party Transactions [Abstract] Note 14. Related Party Transactions Segment Reporting [Abstract] Note 15. Business Segment Reporting Description of Business Tender Offer Principles of Consolidation Fiscal Year Business Acquisitions Subsequent Events Reconciliation of basic and diluted weighted average common shares Summary of outstanding shares Schedule of fair value of Investments Note 5. Investment Partnerships Tables Fair value and carrying value of our partnership interest Fair value of investment partnerships net of deferred taxes Gains/losses from investment partnerships Summarized financial information for Equity in Investment Partnerships Schedule of Property, Plant and Equipment Schedule of Goodwill Schedule of Other Intangibles Note 8. Restaurant Operations Revenues Tables Summary of restaurant operations revenues Schedule of notes payable and other borrowings Component of accumulated other comprehensive income Reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Schedule Of Fair Value Assets And Liabilities Schedule Of Revenue by Segment Schedule of reconciliation of segments earnings to consolidated Notes to Financial Statements 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 Common stock authorized Common stock issued Treasury stock held by the Company Outstanding shares Proportional ownership of the Company's common stock in investment partnerships Net outstanding shares for financial reporting purposes Cost Gross unrealized gains Gross unrealized losses Fair value Partnership interest, beginning Investment partnership gains Contributions (net of distributions) to investment partnerships Increase in proportionate share of Company stock held Partnership interest, ending Note 5. Investment Partnerships Details 1 Fair value of investment partnerships Deferred tax liability related to investment partnerships Fair value of investment partnerships net of deferred taxes Note 5. Investment Partnerships Details 2 Investment partnership gains (loss) Loss on contribution of securities to investment partnership Investment partnership gains (loss) Tax expense (benefit) Contributions to net earnings (losses) Current and Total Assets Current and Total Liabilities Revenue for six months period Earnings for six months period Biglari Holding's Ownership Interest Note 5. Investment Partnerships Details Narrative Proportionate share of Company stock held by investment partnerships at cost Accrued incentive fee Land Buildings Land and leasehold improvements Equipment Construction in progress Property and equipment, gross Less accumulated depreciation and amortization Property and equipment, net Legal Entity [Axis] Balance at beginning of year Acquisition during period Change in foreign exchange rates during first six months 2016 Balance at end of period Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Axis] Gross carrying amount Accumulated amortization Total intangible assets Gross carrying amount Accumulated amortization Amortization expense Total annual amortization expense for years 2017 through 2019 Note 8. Restaurant Operations Revenues Details Net sales Franchise royalties and fees Other Restaurant operations revenue Current portion of notes payable and other borrowings Notes payable Unamortized original issue discount Unamortized debt issue costs Obligations under leases Western revolver Total current portion of notes payable and other borrowings Long-term notes payable and other borrowings Notes payable Unamortized original issue discount Unamortized debt issue costs Obligations under leases Total long-term notes payable and other borrowings Outstanding debt Notional amount of the interest rate swap Interest rate Standby letters of credit Beginning Balance Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications Reclassification to (earnings) loss Ending Balance ReclassificationOfAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeAxis [Axis] Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Income taxes Tax expense related to investment partnership gains Unrecognized tax benefits Schedule of Fair Value of Separate Accounts by Major Category of Investment [Axis] Assets Cash equivalents Equity securities: Insurance Equity securities: Consumer goods Bonds Options on equity securities Non-qualified deferred compensation plan investments Total assets at fair value Interest rate swaps Total liabilities at fair value Segments [Axis] Corporate And Other Revenue Earnings before income taxes and noncontrolling interests Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. The aggregate amount of interest expense incurred on the Company's financing and capital lease obligations. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. The cash outflow for principal payments made on direct financing lease obligations. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. Custom Element. SteakNShakeRestaurantOperationsMember OtherSegmentMember OtherMember Corporate1Member Assets, Current Assets [Default Label] Liabilities, Current Deferred Tax Liabilities, Net, Noncurrent Liabilities [Default Label] Treasury Stock, Value Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Liabilities and Equity Revenue, Net Costs and Expenses Interest Expense InterestOnObligationsUnderLeases InvestmentPartnershipGainsLosses Nonoperating Income (Expense) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Available-for-sale Securities, Tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI for Sale of Securities, before Tax OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAppreciationOnContributionToInvestmentPartnershipsBeforeForeignCurrencyTransactionAndTranslation OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax1 Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets Realized Investment Gains (Losses) IncreaseDecreaseInReceivablesAndInventories Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Payments to Acquire Investments Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Repayments of Lines of Credit Repayments of Long-term Debt PrincipalPaymentsOnDirectFinancingLeaseObligations Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities InvestmentPartnershipsDisclosure RestaurantOperationsRevenuesDisclosureTextBlock Available-for-sale Securities, Amortized Cost Basis AvailableForSaleSecuritiesFairValueDisclosure1 Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure FairValueOfInvestmentPartnershipsNetOfDeferredTaxes Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Assets Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Liabilities Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Property, Plant, and Equipment Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) IndefiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization Other Revenue, Net Notes Payable, Current [Abstract] Notes Payable, Noncurrent [Abstract] Notes Payable, Noncurrent Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount Unamortized Debt Issuance Expense Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Assets, Fair Value Disclosure [Abstract] ConsolidatedAffiliatedPartnershipsMember ConsolidatedResultsMember IncentiveFeeMember InterestRateSwapOneMember InvestmentAndDerivativeGainsLossesMember InvestmentGainsLossesMember InvestmentManagementMember InvestmentsHeldByConsolidatedAffiliatedPartnershipsMember ManagementFeesMember NonOperatingPropertyMember NonQualifiedDeferredCompensationPlanInvestmentsMember OthersMember RestaurantRetailMember ResturantRetailMember RightToOperateMember TotalCorporateAndOtherMember TotalInvestmentManagementOperationsMember WesternRestaurantOperationsMember InvestmentGainsMember