Acquisitions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Acquisitions	Acquisitions Acquisition of Diversified Global Asset Management Corporation On February 3, 2014, the Partnership acquired 100% of the equity interests in Diversified Global Asset Management Corporation (“DGAM”), a Toronto, Canada-based alternative investment manager with $2.9 billion in fee-earning assets under management. As of February 3, 2014, DGAM also advised on $3.6 billion in assets, for which it earns a nominal advisory fee. The purchase price consisted of approximately $8.0 million in cash and 662,134 newly issued common units (approximately $23.1 million). The transaction also included contingent compensation of up to $23.7 million in cash and $47.3 million in common units, which are issuable through 2021 upon the achievement of certain performance and service-based requirements. As of December 31, 2015, approximately $5.5 million in payments had been made under the contingent compensation arrangements and an additional $12.5 million in payments will be made in 2016. No further payments will be made beyond these amounts. The Partnership consolidated the financial position and results of operations of DGAM effective February 3, 2014 and accounted for this transaction as a business combination. DGAM is the Partnership’s fund of hedge funds platform and is included in the Partnership’s Investment Solutions business segment. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the additional information on the DGAM acquisition. During the third week of February 2016, the Partnership decided to restructure its Investment Solutions segment to focus on private market secondaries, co-investment and managed account activities and, given the challenging market environment, discontinue its fund of hedge funds and liquid alternative initiatives. On February 19, 2016, the Partnership commenced a wind down of the operations of DGAM and recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $7.0 million and a $15.0 million intangible asset impairment charge in the year ended December 31, 2015 (see Note 7). In addition, the Partnership estimates it will incur between $10.0 million and $15.0 million in employee separation and other contract termination costs associated with the wind down of DGAM in 2016. Acquisition of Metropolitan Real Estate Equity Management On November 1, 2013, the Partnership acquired 100% of the equity interests in Metropolitan Real Estate Equity Management, LLC (“Metropolitan”), a global manager of real estate fund of funds with more than $2.6 billion in capital commitments at the acquisition date. The purchase price consisted of approximately $12.8 million in cash and 67,338 newly issued common units (approximately $2.1 million). The transaction also included contingent consideration that is payable through 2018 upon the achievement of performance conditions of up to $5.0 million in cash and common units equivalent to $10.0 million at the time of vesting. Additionally, the transaction included compensation of 52,889 newly issued Carlyle Holdings partnership units (approximately $1.6 million) that vest ratably over a period of 5 years, up to $10.4 million of cash payable through 2018 based on the achievement of performance conditions, and $10.6 million and $10.0 million of Carlyle Holdings partnership units and common units, respectively, that are issuable through 2023 based on the achievement of performance conditions and time vesting. The Partnership consolidated the financial position and results of operations of Metropolitan effective November 1, 2013 and accounted for this transaction as a business combination. Metropolitan is included in the Partnership’s Investment Solutions business segment. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on the Metropolitan acquisition. Acquisition of Remaining 40% Equity Interest in AlpInvest On August 1, 2013, Carlyle Holdings, a controlled subsidiary of the Partnership, acquired the remaining 40% equity interest in AlpInvest for an aggregate of 2,887,970 newly issued common units of the Partnership (approximately $80.8 million) and approximately €4.5 million in cash (approximately $6.0 million). Of the 2,887,970 common units issued in this transaction, 914,087 common units (approximately $25.5 million) were issued to AlpInvest sellers who are employees of the Partnership and are subject to vesting over a period up to 5 years (see Note 16). The remaining 1,973,883 common units issued in the transaction (approximately $55.3 million) were not subject to any vesting conditions. The Partnership accounted for this transaction as an acquisition of ownership interests in a subsidiary while retaining a controlling interest in the subsidiary. Accordingly, the carrying value of the non-controlling interest was adjusted to reflect the change in the ownership interests in AlpInvest. The excess of the fair value of the consideration paid by the Partnership (excluding any elements of the transaction deemed to be compensatory) over the carrying amount of the non-controlling interest acquired was recognized directly as a reduction to partners’ capital. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on the acquisition of the remaining 40% equity interest in AlpInvest.

Acquisitions

Acquisition of Diversified Global Asset Management Corporation

On February 3, 2014, the Partnership acquired 100% of the equity interests in Diversified Global Asset Management Corporation (“DGAM”), a Toronto, Canada-based alternative investment manager with $2.9 billion in fee-earning assets under management. As of February 3, 2014, DGAM also advised on $3.6 billion in assets, for which it earns a nominal advisory fee. The purchase price consisted of approximately $8.0 million in cash and 662,134 newly issued common units (approximately $23.1 million). The transaction also included contingent compensation of up to $23.7 million in cash and $47.3 million in common units, which are issuable through 2021 upon the achievement of certain performance and service-based requirements. As of December 31, 2015, approximately $5.5 million in payments had been made under the contingent compensation arrangements and an additional $12.5 million in payments will be made in 2016. No further payments will be made beyond these amounts. The Partnership consolidated the financial position and results of operations of DGAM effective February 3, 2014 and accounted for this transaction as a business combination. DGAM is the Partnership’s fund of hedge funds platform and is included in the Partnership’s Investment Solutions business segment.

See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership's 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the additional information on the DGAM acquisition.

During the third week of February 2016, the Partnership decided to restructure its Investment Solutions segment to focus on private market secondaries, co-investment and managed account activities and, given the challenging market environment, discontinue its fund of hedge funds and liquid alternative initiatives. On February 19, 2016, the Partnership commenced a wind down of the operations of DGAM and recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $7.0 million and a $15.0 million intangible asset impairment charge in the year ended December 31, 2015 (see Note 7). In addition, the Partnership estimates it will incur between $10.0 million and $15.0 million in employee separation and other contract termination costs associated with the wind down of DGAM in 2016.

Acquisition of Metropolitan Real Estate Equity Management

On November 1, 2013, the Partnership acquired 100% of the equity interests in Metropolitan Real Estate Equity Management, LLC (“Metropolitan”), a global manager of real estate fund of funds with more than $2.6 billion in capital commitments at the acquisition date. The purchase price consisted of approximately $12.8 million in cash and 67,338 newly issued common units (approximately $2.1 million). The transaction also included contingent consideration that is payable through 2018 upon the achievement of performance conditions of up to $5.0 million in cash and common units equivalent to $10.0 million at the time of vesting. Additionally, the transaction included compensation of 52,889 newly issued Carlyle Holdings partnership units (approximately $1.6 million) that vest ratably over a period of 5 years, up to $10.4 million of cash payable through 2018 based on the achievement of performance conditions, and $10.6 million and $10.0 million of Carlyle Holdings partnership units and common units, respectively, that are issuable through 2023 based on the achievement of performance conditions and time vesting. The Partnership consolidated the financial position and results of operations of Metropolitan effective November 1, 2013 and accounted for this transaction as a business combination. Metropolitan is included in the Partnership’s Investment Solutions business segment.

See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on the Metropolitan acquisition.

Acquisition of Remaining 40% Equity Interest in AlpInvest

On August 1, 2013, Carlyle Holdings, a controlled subsidiary of the Partnership, acquired the remaining 40% equity interest in AlpInvest for an aggregate of 2,887,970 newly issued common units of the Partnership (approximately $80.8 million) and approximately €4.5 million in cash (approximately $6.0 million). Of the 2,887,970 common units issued in this transaction, 914,087 common units (approximately $25.5 million) were issued to AlpInvest sellers who are employees of the Partnership and are subject to vesting over a period up to 5 years (see Note 16). The remaining 1,973,883 common units issued in the transaction (approximately $55.3 million) were not subject to any vesting conditions. The Partnership accounted for this transaction as an acquisition of ownership interests in a subsidiary while retaining a controlling interest in the subsidiary. Accordingly, the carrying value of the non-controlling interest was adjusted to reflect the change in the ownership interests in AlpInvest. The excess of the fair value of the consideration paid by the Partnership (excluding any elements of the transaction deemed to be compensatory) over the carrying amount of the non-controlling interest acquired was recognized directly as a reduction to partners’ capital.

See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in the Partnership’s 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information on the acquisition of the remaining 40% equity interest in AlpInvest.