Investments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jan. 15, 2015	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Approximate cash consideration to be paid in cash future year	33.33%
Approximate cash consideration to be issued as promissory note in future year	66.66%
Percentage of carried interest income to be allocated to Partnership for future interests in future carry funds	47.50%
Number of years until Carlyle can purchase the remaining interests in NGP Management	9 years
Partnership vested period (in years)	5 years
Carrying value for carried interest	$ 0	$ 18,500,000
Carrying value for general partner investments	18,700,000	20,400,000
Amount of cash for strategic investment contingent consideration	63,000,000
Amount of promissory note for strategic investment contingent consideration	$ 120,000,000
Term length promissory note (in years)	6 years
Promissory note basis spread on variable rate note (as a percent)	2.50%
Aggregate commitments for NGP XI Fund			$ 5,300,000,000
Partnership's basis difference based on underlying net assets	$ 85,000,000	141,600,000		$ 199,600,000
Basis difference amortization period (in years)	10 years
Trading securities and other investments	$ 12,000,000	$ 12,900,000
Management fee-related revenues
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of management fee revenue allocated to Carlyle	55.00%	47.50%
Barclays Natural Resource Investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contingent consideration	$ 183,000,000
Accrued contingent consideration obligation	$ 183,000,000
Carlyle Holdings
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Issuance of partnership units (in shares)	597,944
Value of additional partnership units to be issued upon the satisfaction of certain performance conditions	$ 15,000,000.0
ECM Capital, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contingent consideration	$ 45,000,000.0
ECM Capital, L.P. | Barclays Natural Resource Investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of carried interest to be received if certain options to purchase additional interests are made	40.00%
Purchase price	$ 504,600,000
Issuance of partnership units (in shares)	996,572
Corporate Mezzanine Securities Bonds And Warrants
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Trading securities and other investments	$ 12,000,000	$ 12,900,000