Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	[1]	Sep. 30, 2015	[1]	Jun. 30, 2015	[1]	Mar. 31, 2015	[1]	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 786,256	$ 747,591	$ 725,806	$ 769,126	$ 726,726		$ 738,693		$ 792,737		$ 762,571		$ 3,028,779	$ 3,020,727	$ 3,005,366
Net income attributable to AB Unitholders	$ 224,538	$ 158,035	$ 124,501	$ 166,284	$ 159,394		$ 133,308		$ 147,425		$ 139,800		$ 673,358	$ 579,927	$ 563,861
Basic net income per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.83	$ 0.58	$ 0.46	$ 0.61	$ 0.59	[2]	$ 0.49	[2]	$ 0.53	[2]	$ 0.51	[2]	$ 2.48	$ 2.11	$ 2.07
Diluted net income per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)	0.83	0.58	0.46	0.60	0.58	[2]	0.48	[2]	0.53	[2]	0.51	[2]	$ 2.47	$ 2.10	$ 2.07
Cash distributions per AB Unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.73	$ 0.51	$ 0.46	$ 0.45	$ 0.56	[3],[4]	$ 0.50	[3],[4]	$ 0.54	[3],[4]	$ 0.51	[3],[4]

[1] Certain prior-period amounts have been revised, see Note 2 for a discussion of the revision.

[2] Basic and diluted net income per unit are computed independently for each of the periods presented. Accordingly, the sum of the quarterly net income per unit amounts may not agree to the total for the year.

[3] Cash distributions reflect the impact of our non-GAAP adjustments.

[4] Declared and paid during the following quarter.