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 (Loss)	General Partner’s Capital	Limited Partners' Capital
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2020		$ (8,316)	$ (57,219)	$ (94,203)	$ 41,776	$ 4,229,485
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 243,839				2,441	241,690
Cash distributions					(2,898)	(286,813)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		142	18,002		(7)	(708)
Issuance of AB Units, net			(71,013)		710	70,250
Capital contributions from AB Holding		6,449
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(35,854)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			2,277
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(7,116)			(7,116)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	87			87
Partners' capital, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2021	4,049,162	(1,725)	(143,807)	(101,232)	42,022	4,253,904
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2021	4,160,923	(8,333)	(119,470)	(90,335)	42,850	4,336,211
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	235,682				2,607	258,120
Cash distributions					(3,781)	(374,029)
Long-term incentive compensation plans activity		174	18,442		(1)	(157)
Issuance of AB Units, net			(15,655)		157	15,498
Capital contributions from AB Holding		33
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(13,822)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(409)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(11,721)			(11,721)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	320			320
Partners' capital, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2022	$ 4,036,699	$ (8,126)	$ (130,914)	$ (101,736)	$ 41,832	$ 4,235,643