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)	General Partner’s Capital	Limited Partners' Capital
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ (9,011)	$ (76,310)	$ (113,004)	$ 41,225	$ 4,174,201
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 575,067				5,796	573,821
Cash distributions					(6,316)	(624,566)
(Retirement) of AB Units, net			44,847		(446)	(44,154)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		598	22,996		20	1,963
Capital contributions (to) 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)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	1,403			1,403
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	913			913
Other			15
Partners' capital, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	3,937,831	(8,706)	(64,319)	(110,688)	40,279	4,081,265
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2020		(9,167)	(73,726)	(127,359)	38,647	4,066,211
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	208,057				2,079	205,897
Cash distributions					(378)	(183,880)
(Retirement) of AB Units, net			8,629		(84)	(8,298)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		205	8,321		15	1,335
Capital contributions (to) 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)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	16,342			16,342
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	329			329
Other			0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2020	3,937,831	(8,706)	(64,319)	(110,688)	40,279	4,081,265
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020	4,111,523	(8,316)	(57,219)	(94,203)	41,776	4,229,485
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	778,603				7,764	768,632
Cash distributions					(7,981)	(789,830)
(Retirement) of AB Units, net			16,665		(164)	(16,351)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		700	34,025		52	5,189
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		(837)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(121,461)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(2,918)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(14,351)			(14,351)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	743			743
Other			0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021	3,991,400	(8,453)	(130,908)	(107,811)	41,447	4,197,125
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2021		(7,799)	(140,204)	(98,790)	41,953	4,247,060
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	263,621				2,647	262,048
Cash distributions					(2,662)	(263,339)
(Retirement) of AB Units, net			53,163		(532)	(52,682)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		541	6,518		41	4,038
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		(1,195)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(45,993)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(4,392)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(9,349)			(9,349)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	328			328
Other			0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2021	$ 3,991,400	$ (8,453)	$ (130,908)	$ (107,811)	$ 41,447	$ 4,197,125