Related Party Transactions - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Receivables from AB mutual funds recorded in consolidated statements of financial condition	$ 160,700	$ 174,100
Other investments	591,646	664,696
General Partners Contribution to long-term incentive compensation plan	1,551	2,325	$ 3,386
Capital contributions from affiliates	2,041	511	1,820
Net receivable balance	12,100	12,600
AXA and its subsidiaries [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sales of company-sponsored mutual funds	1,100,000	1,100,000	$ 700,000
AllianceBernstein Venture Fund I, L.P. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Other investments	$ 23,900	$ 32,600
Ownership percentage	10.00%
Capital Accumulation Plan [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Awards granted	0

Amount of sales of company sponsored mutual funds by an affiliate during the period.

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- Definition

The total amount due to the entity within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from an affiliate, including trade accounts receivable, notes and loans receivable, as well as any other types of receivables, net of allowances established for the purpose of reducing such receivables to an amount that approximates their net realizable value.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
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- Definition

The fair value as of the balance sheet date of firm holdings in other positions not elsewhere specified in the taxonomy. Includes both pledged (to counterparties as collateral for financing transactions) and unpledged holdings.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 940
-SubTopic 320
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35711157&loc=d3e42546-110969

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- Definition

Total contributions made by each class of partners (i.e., general, limited and preferred partners).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187171-122770

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3

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- Definition

The cash inflow from an entity that is affiliated with the entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Financing Activities
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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The total amount due to the entity within one year of the balance sheet date (or one operating cycle, if longer) from outside sources, including trade accounts receivable, notes and loans receivable, as well as any other types of receivables, net of allowances established for the purpose of reducing such receivables to an amount that approximates their net realizable value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

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