Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	12 Months Ended
Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	Dec. 31, 2011
Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans (Details) [Abstract]
Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	16. Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans We maintain an unfunded, non-qualified incentive compensation program known as the 2011 AllianceBernstein Incentive Compensation Award Program (the “Incentive Compensation Program”) under which annual awards may be granted to eligible employees. See Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Deferred Compensation Plans for a discussion of the award provisions. Under the Incentive Compensation Program, we made awards in 2011, 2010 and 2009 aggregating $159.9 million, $275.6 million and $223.1 million, respectively. The amounts charged to employee compensation and benefits for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $654.3 million (which includes $509.1 million of the one-time, non-cash deferred compensation charge), $207.9 million and $202.3 million, respectively. During 2005, we established the AllianceBernstein Financial Advisor Wealth Accumulation Plan (“Wealth Accumulation Plan”), a voluntary unfunded, non-qualified incentive plan. The Wealth Accumulation Plan was established to attract, motivate and retain eligible employees expected to make significant contributions to the future growth and success of Bernstein Global Wealth Management, the unit of AllianceBernstein that services private clients. Participants designate the percentage of their awards to be notionally invested in Holding Units or certain of our investment services. No more than 50% of the award may be notionally invested in Holding Units. Prior to the amendments made in the fourth quarter of 2011, all awards vested annually on a pro rata basis over the term of the award. There were no awards granted under this plan in 2011 and 2010. We made awards totaling $16.5 million in 2009. The amounts charged to employee compensation and benefits expense for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $25.5 million (which includes $24.8 million of the one-time, non-cash deferred compensation charge), $8.5 million and $9.5 million, respectively. During 2003, we established the AllianceBernstein Commission Substitution Plan (“Commission Substitution Plan”), an unfunded, non-qualified incentive plan. Employees whose principal duties are to sell or market the products or services of AllianceBernstein and whose compensation is entirely or mostly commission-based were eligible for an award under this plan. Participants designated the percentage of their awards to be allocated to notional investments in Holding Units or in certain of our investment services. Awards vested ratably over a three-year period and were amortized as employee compensation expense. The Commission Substitution Plan was terminated in 2007 and no awards have been made since 2006. The amounts charged to employee compensation and benefits expense for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $10.5 million, respectively. We maintain an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan known as the Capital Accumulation Plan and also have assumed obligations under contractual unfunded deferred compensation arrangements covering certain executives (“Contractual Arrangements”). The Capital Accumulation Plan was frozen on December 31, 1987 and no additional awards have been made. The Board may terminate the Capital Accumulation Plan at any time without cause, in which case our liability would be limited to benefits that have vested. Payment of vested benefits under both the Capital Accumulation Plan and the Contractual Arrangements will generally be made over a ten-year period commencing at retirement age. The General Partner is obligated to make capital contributions to AllianceBernstein in amounts equal to benefits paid under the Capital Accumulation Plan and the Contractual Arrangements. Amounts included in employee compensation and benefits expense for the Capital Accumulation Plan and the Contractual Arrangements for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 were $0.9 million, $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively.

The entire disclosure for compensation costs, including compensated absences accruals, compensated absences liability, deferred compensation arrangements and income statement compensation items. Deferred compensation arrangements may include a description of an arrangement with an individual employee, which is generally an employment contract between the entity and a selected officer or key employee containing a promise by the employer to pay certain amounts at designated future dates, usually including a period after retirement, upon compliance with stipulated requirements. This type of arrangement is distinguished from broader based employee benefit plans as it is usually tailored to the employee. Disclosure also typically includes the amount of related compensation expense recognized during the reporting period, the number of shares (units) issued during the period under such arrangements, and the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the related liability.

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