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	$ 525,195					91	5,031	498,146
Cash distributions							(5,148)	(509,151)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		908	35,829				189	18,652
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			31,491				(315)	(31,216)
Capital contributions from AB Holding		1,218
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(81,790)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(9,945)
Other			6,692
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(12,203)			(12,350)		147
Purchase of non-controlling interest						(1,187)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	1,146			1,146
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	3,865,491	(9,304)	(95,713)	(122,070)	$ 3,865,491	0	39,997	4,052,581
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2019		(9,839)	(100,453)	(109,963)		1,020	40,016	4,053,360
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	191,956					17	1,877	185,934
Cash distributions							(1,710)	(169,118)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		216	9,214				4	397
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			19,011				(190)	(18,836)
Capital contributions from AB Holding		319
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(23,432)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(53)
Other			0
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(12,505)			(12,654)		150
Purchase of non-controlling interest						(1,187)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	547			547
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	3,865,491	(9,304)	(95,713)	(122,070)	3,865,491	0	39,997	4,052,581
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	575,067					0	5,796	573,821
Cash distributions							(6,316)	(624,566)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		598	22,996				20	1,963
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			44,847				(446)	(44,154)
Capital contributions from AB Holding		(293)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(53,458)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(2,409)
Other			15
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	1,403			1,403		0
Purchase of non-controlling interest						0
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	913			913
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	3,937,831	(8,706)	(64,319)	(110,688)	3,937,831	0	40,279	4,081,265
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2020		(9,167)	(73,726)	(127,359)		0	38,647	4,066,211
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	208,057					0	2,079	205,897
Cash distributions							(378)	(183,880)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		205	8,321				15	1,335
(Retirement) issuance of AB Units, net			8,629				(84)	(8,298)
Capital contributions from AB Holding		256
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(6,043)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(1,500)
Other			0
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	16,342			16,342		0
Purchase of non-controlling interest						0
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	329			329
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 3,937,831	$ (8,706)	$ (64,319)	$ (110,688)	$ 3,937,831	$ 0	$ 40,279	$ 4,081,265