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, 2022		$ (4,270)	$ (95,318)	$ (129,477)		$ 45,985	$ 4,648,113
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 203,918				$ 0	1,941	192,210
Cash distributions						(2,221)	(219,698)
Long-term incentive compensation		191	6,585			15	1,438
Issuance of AB Units, net						(125)	(12,471)
Capital contributions (to) AB Holding		(1,018)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(18,090)
(Issuance) Retirement of AB Units, net			12,510
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(1,764)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	6,178			6,178
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	301			301
Distributions to non-controlling interests, net					0
Adjustment					(264)
Partners' capital, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2023	4,431,015	(5,097)	(96,077)	(122,998)		45,595	4,609,592
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2022					12,607
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2023					12,343
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total capital	4,443,358
Total capital	4,453,362
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2023	4,448,790	(4,490)	(76,363)	(106,364)		45,388	4,590,619
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	225,955				118	2,179	215,748
Cash distributions						(2,465)	(243,579)
Long-term incentive compensation		215	8,761			67	6,674
Issuance of AB Units, net						156	14,855
Capital contributions (to) AB Holding		(411)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(5,552)
(Issuance) Retirement of AB Units, net			(15,483)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(7,222)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(10,200)			(10,200)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	670			670
Distributions to non-controlling interests, net					(210)
Adjustment					0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2024	4,413,203	$ (4,686)	$ (95,859)	$ (115,894)		$ 45,325	$ 4,584,317
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2023					4,572
Balance, end of period at Mar. 31, 2024					$ 4,480
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total capital	$ 4,417,683