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)	Non-redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities	General Partner’s Capital	Limited Partners' Capital
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2021		$ (8,333)	$ (119,470)	$ (90,335)		$ 42,850	$ 4,336,211
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 417,680				$ 0	4,695	464,801
Cash distributions						(6,496)	(641,728)
Long-term incentive compensation		340	26,776			30	2,914
Issuance (retirement) of AB Units, net						(809)	(80,089)
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		1,758
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(106,457)
Stock (Issuance) Retirement During Period, Net, Value			81,615
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(4,161)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(45,473)			(45,473)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	644			644
Distributions (from) non-controlling interests, net					0
Adjustment					0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2022	3,859,283	(6,235)	(121,697)	(135,164)		40,270	4,082,109
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2021					0
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2022					0
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2022		(8,126)	(130,914)	(101,736)		41,832	4,235,643
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	181,998				0	2,088	206,681
Cash distributions						(2,715)	(267,699)
Long-term incentive compensation		166	8,334			31	3,071
Issuance (retirement) of AB Units, net						(966)	(95,587)
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		1,725
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(92,635)
Stock (Issuance) Retirement During Period, Net, Value			97,270
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(3,752)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(33,752)			(33,752)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	324			324
Distributions (from) non-controlling interests, net					0
Adjustment					0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2022	3,859,283	(6,235)	(121,697)	(135,164)		40,270	4,082,109
Balance, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2022					0
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2022					0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total capital	3,859,283
Total capital	4,477,640
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022	4,465,033	(4,270)	(95,318)	(129,477)		45,985	4,648,113
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	382,678				515	3,699	366,189
Cash distributions						(4,357)	(430,856)
Long-term incentive compensation		406	14,961			3	327
Issuance (retirement) of AB Units, net						(97)	(9,784)
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		(1,284)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(18,662)
Stock (Issuance) Retirement During Period, Net, Value			10,756
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(1,080)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	10,719			10,719
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	604			604
Distributions (from) non-controlling interests, net					(2,473)
Adjustment					(264)
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2023	4,406,577	(5,148)	(89,343)	(118,154)		45,233	4,573,989
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2022					12,607
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2023					10,385
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2023		(5,097)	(96,077)	(122,998)		45,595	4,609,592
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	178,760				515	1,758	173,979
Cash distributions						(2,136)	(211,158)
Long-term incentive compensation		215	8,376			(12)	(1,111)
Issuance (retirement) of AB Units, net						28	2,687
Capital contributions (to) from AB Holding		(266)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(572)
Stock (Issuance) Retirement During Period, Net, Value			(1,754)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			684
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	4,541			4,541
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	303			303
Distributions (from) non-controlling interests, net					(2,473)
Adjustment					0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2023	4,406,577	$ (5,148)	$ (89,343)	$ (118,154)		$ 45,233	$ 4,573,989
Balance, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2023					12,343
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2023					$ 10,385
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total capital	$ 4,416,962