Units Outstanding (Details) - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Units Outstanding
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015 (in units)	272,301,827
Options exercised	85,471	200,000
Units issued	251,350
Units retired	(2,000,314)
Outstanding as of March 31, 2016	270,638,334
AllianceBernstein Units
Units Outstanding
Units retired	(200)