Variable Interest Entities - Carrying Amounts of Assets and Liabilities (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	$ 14,979,536	$ 18,460,091
Total Liabilities	(1,448,316)	(1,817,447)
Apollo Exposure	21,769	19,710
Private Equity Segment [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	10,490,123	13,498,100
Total Liabilities	(49,067)	(34,438)
Apollo Exposure	5,802	7,105
Credit Segment [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	2,926,982	3,276,198
Total Liabilities	(255,900)	(545,547)
Apollo Exposure	15,967	12,605
Real Estate [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Total Assets	1,562,431	1,685,793
Total Liabilities	$ (1,143,349)	$ (1,237,462)