Debt	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, AB had $583.9 million and $489.0 million, respectively, in commercial paper outstanding with weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively. The commercial paper is short term in nature, and as such, recorded value is estimated to approximate fair value (and considered a Level 2 security in the fair value hierarchy). Average daily borrowings of commercial paper during 2015 and 2014 were $387.9 million and $335.0 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively. AB has a $1.0 billion committed, unsecured senior revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”) with a group of commercial banks and other lenders. The Credit Facility provides for possible increases in the principal amount by up to an aggregate incremental amount of $250 million; any such increase is subject to the consent of the affected lenders. The Credit Facility is available for AB’s and Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC's ("SCB LLC") business purposes, including the support of AB’s $1.0 billion commercial paper program. Both AB and SCB LLC can draw directly under the Credit Facility and management may draw on the Credit Facility from time to time. AB has agreed to guarantee the obligations of SCB LLC under the Credit Facility. The Credit Facility contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants, which are customary for facilities of this type, including, restrictions on dispositions of assets, restrictions on liens, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. As of December 31, 2015, we were in compliance with these covenants. The Credit Facility also includes customary events of default (with customary grace periods, as applicable), including provisions under which, upon the occurrence of an event of default, all outstanding loans may be accelerated and/or lender’s commitments may be terminated. Also, under such provisions, upon the occurrence of certain insolvency- or bankruptcy-related events of default, all amounts payable under the Credit Facility would automatically become immediately due and payable, and the lender’s commitments automatically would terminate. Amounts under the Credit Facility may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed by us from time to time until the maturity of the facility. Voluntary prepayments and commitment reductions requested by us are permitted at any time without fee (other than customary breakage costs relating to the prepayment of any drawn loans) upon proper notice and subject to a minimum dollar requirement. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum, which will be, at our option, a rate equal to an applicable margin, which is subject to adjustment based on the credit ratings of AB, plus one of the following indices: London Interbank Offered Rate; a floating base rate; or the Federal Funds rate. On October 22, 2014, as part of an amendment and restatement, the maturity date of the Credit Facility was extended from January 17, 2017 to October 22, 2019. There were no other significant changes included in the amendment. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, we had no amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility. During 2015 and 2014, we did not draw upon the Credit Facility. In addition, SCB LLC has three uncommitted lines of credit with three financial institutions. Two of these lines of credit permit us to borrow up to an aggregate of approximately $200 million, with AB named as an additional borrower, while one line has no stated limit. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, SCB LLC had no bank loans outstanding. Average daily borrowings of bank loans during 2015 and 2014 were $3.9 million and $5.5 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively.

Debt

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, AB had $583.9 million and $489.0 million, respectively, in commercial paper outstanding with weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively. The commercial paper is short term in nature, and as such, recorded value is estimated to approximate fair value (and considered a Level 2 security in the fair value hierarchy). Average daily borrowings of commercial paper during 2015 and 2014 were $387.9 million and $335.0 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively.

AB has a $1.0 billion committed, unsecured senior revolving credit facility (“Credit Facility”) with a group of commercial banks and other lenders. The Credit Facility provides for possible increases in the principal amount by up to an aggregate incremental amount of $250 million; any such increase is subject to the consent of the affected lenders. The Credit Facility is available for AB’s and Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., LLC's ("SCB LLC") business purposes, including the support of AB’s $1.0 billion commercial paper program. Both AB and SCB LLC can draw directly under the Credit Facility and management may draw on the Credit Facility from time to time. AB has agreed to guarantee the obligations of SCB LLC under the Credit Facility.

The Credit Facility contains affirmative, negative and financial covenants, which are customary for facilities of this type, including, restrictions on dispositions of assets, restrictions on liens, a minimum interest coverage ratio and a maximum leverage ratio. As of December 31, 2015, we were in compliance with these covenants. The Credit Facility also includes customary events of default (with customary grace periods, as applicable), including provisions under which, upon the occurrence of an event of default, all outstanding loans may be accelerated and/or lender’s commitments may be terminated. Also, under such provisions, upon the occurrence of certain insolvency- or bankruptcy-related events of default, all amounts payable under the Credit Facility would automatically become immediately due and payable, and the lender’s commitments automatically would terminate.

Amounts under the Credit Facility may be borrowed, repaid and re-borrowed by us from time to time until the maturity of the facility. Voluntary prepayments and commitment reductions requested by us are permitted at any time without fee (other than customary breakage costs relating to the prepayment of any drawn loans) upon proper notice and subject to a minimum dollar requirement. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum, which will be, at our option, a rate equal to an applicable margin, which is subject to adjustment based on the credit ratings of AB, plus one of the following indices: London Interbank Offered Rate; a floating base rate; or the Federal Funds rate.

On October 22, 2014, as part of an amendment and restatement, the maturity date of the Credit Facility was extended from January 17, 2017 to October 22, 2019. There were no other significant changes included in the amendment.

As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, we had no amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility. During 2015 and 2014, we did not draw upon the Credit Facility.

In addition, SCB LLC has three uncommitted lines of credit with three financial institutions. Two of these lines of credit permit us to borrow up to an aggregate of approximately $200 million, with AB named as an additional borrower, while one line has no stated limit. As of December 31, 2015 and 2014, SCB LLC had no bank loans outstanding. Average daily borrowings of bank loans during 2015 and 2014 were $3.9 million and $5.5 million, respectively, with weighted average interest rates of approximately 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively.