CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (UNAUDITED) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	Parent	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	AOCI Attributable to Parent	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2014				$ 5,957	$ 8,809	$ 351	$ 2,989
Deferred tax on dividend of AB Units				0
Net earnings (loss)	$ 854				759		95
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest							118
Other comprehensive income (loss)	346					355	(9)
Repurchase of AB Holding units							(12)
Dividends and distributions					0
Other changes in noncontrolling interest				3			10
End of year at Mar. 31, 2015	19,191	$ 16,236		5,960	9,568	706	2,955
Common stock, at par value, beginning of year and end of period	2
Beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2015	17,595			5,321	8,958	228	3,086
Deferred tax on dividend of AB Units				0
Net earnings (loss)	1,720				1,603		117
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interest							111
Other comprehensive income (loss)	789					786	3
Repurchase of AB Holding units							(4)
Dividends and distributions					0
Other changes in noncontrolling interest				(4)			(22)
End of year at Mar. 31, 2016	19,963	$ 16,894		$ 5,317	$ 10,561	$ 1,014	$ 3,069
Common stock, at par value, beginning of year and end of period	$ 2		$ 2