Business Description Organization and Basis of Presentation (Revision) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Impact on partners' capital	$ 3,924,188			$ 3,924,188		$ 3,992,748
Income taxes	11,578	$ 11,814	$ 25,737	37,315	$ 34,775
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$ 158,035	$ 133,308	$ 290,785	$ 448,820	$ 420,533
Basic net income per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.58	$ 0.49	$ 1.06	$ 1.65	$ 1.53
Diluted net income per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.58	$ 0.48	$ 1.06	$ 1.64	$ 1.52
Undistributed earnings of non-U.S. corporate subsidiaries permanently invested outside the U.S.						892,000
As Reported
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Income taxes		$ 10,146	$ 20,452		$ 29,769
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders		$ 134,976	$ 296,070		$ 425,539
Basic net income per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)		$ 0.49	$ 1.08		$ 1.55
Diluted net income per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)		$ 0.49	$ 1.08		$ 1.54
Adjustment
Error Corrections and Prior Period Adjustments Restatement [Line Items]
Income tax liability arising from prior period restatement	$ 45,600			$ 45,600
Impact on partners' capital						$ 37,700
Income taxes		$ 1,668	$ 5,285		$ 5,006
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders		$ (1,668)	$ (5,285)		$ (5,006)
Basic net income per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)		$ 0.00	$ (0.02)		$ (0.02)
Diluted net income per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)		$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)		$ (0.02)