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
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2022					$ 12,607
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income					623
Distributions (to) from non-controlling interests, net					(2,334)
Adjustment					(264)
Contributions (to) from non-controlling interest					0
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2023					10,632
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	$ 547,918					5,373	531,919
Cash distributions						(6,319)	(624,470)
Long-term incentive compensation		548	18,561			34	3,352
(Retirement) of AB Units, net						(646)	(64,092)
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding		(1,518)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(70,837)
Retirement of AB Units, net			65,607
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(4,371)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(5,182)			(5,182)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	907			907
Partners' capital, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	4,313,899	(5,240)	(86,358)	(133,752)		44,427	4,494,822
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2023					10,385
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income					108
Distributions (to) from non-controlling interests, net					139
Adjustment					0
Contributions (to) from non-controlling interest					0
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2023					10,632
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2023		(5,148)	(89,343)	(118,154)		45,233	4,573,989
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	165,240					1,674	165,730
Cash distributions						(1,962)	(193,614)
Long-term incentive compensation		142	3,600			31	3,025
(Retirement) of AB Units, net						(549)	(54,308)
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding		(234)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(52,175)
Retirement of AB Units, net			54,851
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(3,291)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(15,901)			(15,901)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	303			303
Partners' capital, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2023	4,313,899	(5,240)	(86,358)	(133,752)		44,427	4,494,822
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total capital	4,324,531
Total capital	4,453,362
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2023					4,572
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income					1,763
Distributions (to) from non-controlling interests, net					(2,696)
Adjustment					0
Contributions (to) from non-controlling interest					94
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2024					3,733
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	890,733					8,735	864,736
Cash distributions						(7,101)	(702,324)
Long-term incentive compensation		797	26,645			83	8,256
(Retirement) of AB Units, net						(460)	(46,314)
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding		201
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(73,131)
Retirement of AB Units, net			47,378
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(9,442)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	16,878			16,878
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	674			674
Partners' capital, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2024	4,584,401	(3,492)	(84,913)	(88,812)		46,645	4,714,973
Balance, beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2024					3,540
Increase (Decrease) in Temporary Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income					195
Distributions (to) from non-controlling interests, net					(1)
Adjustment					0
Contributions (to) from non-controlling interest					(1)
Balance, end of period at Sep. 30, 2024					$ 3,733
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2024		(3,822)	(92,612)	(107,436)		45,880	4,639,147
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	351,026					3,460	342,512
Cash distributions						(2,285)	(226,031)
Long-term incentive compensation		291	6,266			27	2,759
(Retirement) of AB Units, net						(437)	(43,414)
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding		39
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(39,342)
Retirement of AB Units, net			43,751
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(2,976)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	18,514			18,514
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	110			110
Partners' capital, ending balance at Sep. 30, 2024	4,584,401	$ (3,492)	$ (84,913)	$ (88,812)		$ 46,645	$ 4,714,973
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total capital	$ 4,588,134