Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plans - Option Plan Activity (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Options to Buy AB Holding Units
Exercised (in units)	(1,179,860)	(358,262)
Option Awards [Member]
Options to Buy AB Holding Units
Outstanding as of December 31, 2016 (in units)	5,085,043
Granted (in units)	0	54,546	29,056
Exercised (in units)	(1,179,860)
Forfeited (in units)	0
Expired (in units)	(822,713)
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017 (in units)	3,082,470	5,085,043
Exercisable as of December 31, 2017, Options to Buy AB Holding Units (in units)	3,018,236
Vested or Expected to Vest as of December 31, 2017, Options to Buy AB Holding Units (in units)	3,082,470
Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option
Outstanding as of December 31, 2016, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	$ 49.45
Granted, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	0.00
Exercised, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	17.04
Forfeited, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	0.00
Expired, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	84.96
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	52.37	$ 49.45
Exercisable as of December 31, 2017, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	52.97
Vested or Expected to Vest as of December 31, 2017, Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Option (in dollars per unit)	$ 52.37
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term (Years)
Outstanding, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 2 months 12 days	2 years
Exercisable as of December 31, 2017, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 1 month 6 days
Vested and Expected to Vest as of December 31, 2017, Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term	1 year 2 months 12 days
Outstanding as of December 31, 2017, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 0
Exercisable as of December 31, 2017, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	0
Vested or Expected to Vest as of December 31, 2017, Aggregate Intrinsic Value	$ 0