Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Receivables from Affiliates	AB Holding Units held for Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Partners' Capital	Non-redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities	General Partner’s Capital	Limited Partners' Capital
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018		$ (11,430)	$ (77,990)	$ (110,866)		$ 949	$ 40,240	$ 4,075,306
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 333,239					74	3,154	312,212
Cash distributions							(3,438)	(340,033)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		692	26,615				185	18,255
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			12,480				(125)	(12,380)
Capital contributions from AB Holding		899
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(58,358)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(9,892)
Other			6,692
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	302			304		(3)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	599			599
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	3,874,141	(9,839)	(100,453)	(109,963)	$ 3,873,121	1,020	40,016	4,053,360
Balance, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019		(11,666)	(69,503)	(108,012)		945	39,403	3,992,590
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	174,009					58	1,663	164,589
Cash distributions							(1,521)	(150,465)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		227	8,011				12	1,270
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			(45,860)				459	45,376
Capital contributions from AB Holding		1,600
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			94
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			113
Other			6,692
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(2,251)			(2,267)		17
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	316			316
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	3,874,141	(9,839)	(100,453)	(109,963)	3,873,121	1,020	40,016	4,053,360
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019		(9,011)	(76,310)	(113,004)		0	41,225	4,174,201
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	367,010					0	3,717	367,924
Cash distributions							(5,938)	(440,686)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		393	14,675				5	628
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			36,218				(362)	(35,856)
Capital contributions from AB Holding		(549)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(47,415)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(909)
Other			15
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(14,939)			(14,939)		0
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	584			584
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	3,894,606	(9,167)	(73,726)	(127,359)	3,894,606	0	38,647	4,066,211
Balance, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2020		(9,279)	(81,314)	(134,073)		0	40,571	4,109,946
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	198,261					0	1,774	175,547
Cash distributions							(3,396)	(189,425)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		209	7,268				3	293
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			30,455				(305)	(30,150)
Capital contributions from AB Holding		(97)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(29,665)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(473)
Other			3
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	6,384			6,384		0
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	330			330
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 3,894,606	$ (9,167)	$ (73,726)	$ (127,359)	$ 3,894,606	$ 0	$ 38,647	$ 4,066,211