Supplemental Financial Information - Supplemental Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)			$ 0.6	$ (219.3)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			52.6	281.7
Equity-based compensation	$ 81.4	$ 86.8	265.8	291.0
Excess tax benefits related to equity-based compensation			0.0	(1.4)
Non-cash performance fees			108.0	584.4
Other non-cash amounts			(19.2)	41.8
Investment (income) loss			(135.8)	32.6
Purchases of investments and trading securities			(262.7)	(99.2)
Proceeds from the sale of investments and trading securities			236.7	382.6
Payments of contingent consideration			(82.6)	(17.8)
Change in deferred taxes, net			3.7	(12.0)
Change in due from affiliates and other receivables			0.7	(3.4)
Change in receivables and inventory of a consolidated real estate VIE			45.1	(49.5)
Change in deposits and other			6.0	(9.3)
Change in other assets of a consolidated real estate VIE			33.1	(10.5)
Change in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities			71.8	(82.9)
Change in accrued compensation and benefits			32.4	(212.8)
Change in due to affiliates			(22.4)	253.5
Change in other liabilities of a consolidated real estate VIE			(1.2)	43.9
Change in deferred revenue			154.9	111.4
Net cash provided by operating activities			487.5	1,304.8
Cash flows from investing activities
Change in restricted cash			1.8	(217.9)
Purchases of fixed assets, net			(13.3)	(49.8)
Net cash used in investing activities			(11.5)	(267.7)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from debt obligations			20.6	0.0
Net payments on loans payable of a consolidated real estate VIE			(27.3)	(53.1)
Payments of contingent consideration			(3.3)	(8.0)
Excess tax benefits related to equity-based compensation			0.0	1.4
Distributions to common unitholders			(98.5)	(206.0)
Distributions to non-controlling interest holders in Carlyle Holdings			(300.9)	(702.4)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders			75.3	104.5
Distributions to non-controlling interest holders			(85.5)	(92.1)
Net proceeds from issuance of common units, net of offering costs			0.0	209.9
Acquisition of non-controlling interests in Carlyle Holdings			0.0	(209.9)
Units repurchased			(53.6)	0.0
Change in due to/from affiliates financing activities			49.5	4.4
Net cash used in financing activities			(423.7)	(951.3)
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes			(0.5)	(20.3)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents			51.8	65.5
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period			991.5	1,242.0
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 1,043.3	$ 1,307.5	$ 1,043.3	$ 1,307.5