Units Outstanding (Details) - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Units Outstanding
Outstanding as of December 31, 2015 (in units)	272,301,827
Options exercised (in units)	139,093	500,000
Units issued (in units)	710,925
Units retired (in units)	(6,092,926)
Balance as of September 30, 2016 (in units)	267,058,919
Units retired (in units)	6,092,926
AllianceBernstein Units
Units Outstanding
Units retired (in units)	(15,338)
Units retired (in units)	15,338