Investments - Narrative (Details) - USD ($)	1 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Jan. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2017	Jan. 01, 2021	Feb. 01, 2020	Feb. 01, 2019	Feb. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of carried interest income to be allocated to Partnership for future interests in future carry funds		47.50%
Amount of cash for strategic investment contingent consideration			$ 63,000,000
Amount of promissory note for strategic investment contingent consideration			120,000,000
Vesting period of common units to be issued in future period					42 months
Partnership's basis difference based on underlying net assets					$ 21,300,000					$ 29,800,000	$ 85,000,000
Basis difference amortization period (in years)					10 years
Investments in CLOs and other					$ 405,900,000					156,100,000
Corporate Mezzanine Securities Bonds And Warrants
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investments in CLOs and other					$ 405,900,000					$ 156,100,000
Scenario, Forecast
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Value of common units to be issued in future period						$ 10,000,000.0	$ 10,000,000	$ 10,000,000
Subsequent Event
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Value of common units to be issued in future period									$ 10,000,000.0
Barclays Natural Resource Investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contingent consideration			$ 183,000,000
Carlyle Holdings
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Issuance of partnership units (in shares)				597,944
Carlyle Holdings | Subsequent Event
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Payments to acquire businesses and interest in affiliates	$ 15,000,000
ECM Capital, L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Contingent consideration				$ 45,000,000.0
Payments to acquire businesses and interest in affiliates		$ 22,500,000
ECM Capital, L.P. | Barclays Natural Resource Investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Purchase price				$ 504,600,000
Issuance of partnership units (in shares)				996,572
Management fee-related revenues
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of management fee revenue allocated to Carlyle		55.00%