Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income	$ 400.1	$ 915.1	$ 1,347.8
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization, and impairment	322.8	192.1	163.6
Equity-based compensation	378.0	344.0	322.4
Excess tax benefits related to equity-based compensation	(4.0)	(2.7)	(1.9)
Non-cash performance fees	455.1	(572.9)	(1,525.5)
Other non-cash amounts	12.7	(1.4)	(9.1)
Consolidated Funds related:
Realized/unrealized gain on investments of Consolidated Funds	(458.7)	(785.6)	(1,369.6)
Realized/unrealized (loss) gain from loans payable of Consolidated Funds	(436.5)	(11.9)	695.8
Purchases of investments by Consolidated Funds	(10,472.1)	(10,566.3)	(11,555.0)
Proceeds from sale and settlements of investments by Consolidated Funds	11,653.6	10,685.6	11,631.6
Non-cash interest income, net	3.3	(26.2)	(81.1)
Change in cash and cash equivalents held at Consolidated Funds	1,281.8	2,516.8	2,419.9
Change in other receivables held at Consolidated Funds	534.6	(414.7)	(228.8)
Change in other liabilities held at Consolidated Funds	48.0	63.3	(120.5)
Investment (income) loss	(0.5)	14.9	(4.8)
Purchases of investments and trading securities	(91.9)	(221.9)	(93.0)
Proceeds from the sale of investments and trading securities	313.0	544.4	294.3
Payments of contingent consideration	(17.8)	(59.6)	0.0
Changes in deferred taxes, net	(31.4)	10.5	44.5
Change in due from affiliates and other receivables	(1.4)	(4.2)	(7.8)
Change in receivables and inventory of a consolidated real estate VIE	(57.5)	0.0	10.1
Change in deposits and other	(10.8)	(10.9)	9.7
Change in other assets of a consolidated real estate VIE	(17.4)	(25.0)	4.3
Change in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	62.5	(23.4)	46.6
Change in accrued compensation and benefits	(35.3)	155.4	935.5
Change in due to affiliates	21.0	(81.6)	96.7
Change in other liabilities of a consolidated real estate VIE	101.6	(24.9)	(32.1)
Change in deferred revenue	(50.0)	36.8	0.7
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,902.8	2,645.7	2,994.3
Cash flows from investing activities
Change in restricted cash	40.8	69.8	(95.4)
Purchases of fixed assets, net	(62.3)	(29.7)	(29.5)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	0.0	(3.1)	(10.2)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(21.5)	37.0	(135.1)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayments under credit facility	0.0	0.0	(386.3)
Issuance of 3.875% senior notes due 2023, net of financing costs	0.0	0.0	495.3
Issuance of 5.625% senior notes due 2043, net of financing costs	0.0	210.8	394.1
Proceeds from loans payable	0.0	0.0	17.1
Payments on loans payable	0.0	0.0	(475.0)
Net payments on loans payable of a consolidated real estate VIE	(65.3)	(34.4)	(1.5)
Net borrowings (payments) on loans payable of Consolidated Funds	734.3	(1,033.4)	(1,595.2)
Payments of contingent consideration	(8.1)	(39.5)	(23.9)
Distributions to common unitholders	(251.0)	(102.7)	(59.9)
Distributions to non-controlling interest holders in Carlyle Holdings	(848.5)	(486.9)	(372.9)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units, net of offering costs	209.9	449.5	0.0
Excess tax benefits related to equity-based compensation	4.0	2.7	1.9
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	2,376.6	2,203.1	2,474.9
Distributions to non-controlling interest holders	(5,267.0)	(4,190.4)	(3,038.0)
Acquisition of non-controlling interests in Carlyle Holdings	(209.9)	(303.4)	(7.1)
Change in due to/from affiliates financing activities	(62.7)	(38.4)	17.3
Change in due to/from affiliates and other receivables of Consolidated Funds	(623.5)	1,069.6	55.5
Net cash used in financing activities	(4,011.2)	(2,293.4)	(2,503.7)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes	(120.6)	(113.9)	44.0
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents	(250.5)	275.4	399.5
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	1,242.0	966.6	567.1
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	991.5	1,242.0	966.6
Supplemental cash disclosures
Cash paid for interest	56.0	51.9	28.6
Cash paid for income taxes	41.6	58.7	50.4
Supplemental non-cash disclosures
Increase in partners’ capital related to reallocation of ownership interest in Carlyle Holdings	21.9	30.9	13.9
Increase to partners’ capital from acquisition of non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	0.0	0.0	3.9
Initial consolidation of Consolidated Funds	63.8	0.0	69.6
Non-cash contributions from non-controlling interest holders	0.0	4.4	1.6
Non-cash distributions to non-controlling interest holders	0.0	0.0	3.2
Acquisition of Carlyle Holdings Partnership Units [Member]
Tax effect from acquisition of Carlyle Holdings partnership units:
Deferred tax asset	59.6	67.8	0.0
Deferred tax liability	2.6	0.0	0.0
Tax receivable agreement liability	51.5	58.1	0.0
Total partners’ capital	$ 5.5	$ 0.0	$ 0.0