Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	3 Months Ended
Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	Mar. 31, 2013
Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans [Abstract]
Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	3. Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans AllianceBernstein maintains several unfunded, non-qualified long-term incentive compensation plans under which awards of restricted Holding Units and options to buy Holding Units are granted to employees of AllianceBernstein and eligible members of the Board of Directors ("Eligible Directors"). AllianceBernstein funds its restricted Holding Unit awards either by purchasing Holding Units on the open market or purchasing newly-issued Holding Units from Holding, all of which are held in a consolidated rabbi trust until they are distributed to employees upon vesting. In accordance with the Holding Partnership Agreement, when AllianceBernstein purchases newly-issued Holding Units from Holding, Holding is required to use the proceeds it receives from AllianceBernstein to purchase the equivalent number of newly-issued AllianceBernstein Units, thus increasing its percentage ownership interest in AllianceBernstein. Holding Units held in the consolidated rabbi trust are corporate assets in the name of the trust and are available to the general creditors of AllianceBernstein. During the first quarters of 2013 and 2012, AllianceBernstein purchased 1.0 million and 4.5 million Holding Units for $19.6 million and $66.0 million, respectively (on a trade date basis). These amounts reflect open-market purchases of 0.8 million and 4.3 million Holding Units for $16.0 million and $63.2 million, respectively, with the remainder relating to purchases of Holding Units from employees to allow them to fulfill statutory tax withholding requirements at the time of distribution of long-term incentive compensation awards, offset by Holding Units purchased by employees as part of a distribution reinvestment election. Since the third quarter of 2011, AllianceBernstein has implemented plans each quarter to repurchase Holding Units pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended ("Exchange Act"). A Rule 10b5-1 plan allows a company to repurchase its shares at times when it otherwise might be prevented from doing so because of self-imposed trading blackout periods and because it possesses material non-public information. Each broker selected by AllianceBernstein has the authority under the terms and limitations specified in the plan to repurchase Holding Units on AllianceBernstein's behalf in accordance with the terms of the plan. Repurchases are subject to SEC regulations as well as certain price, market volume and timing constraints specified in the plan. The plan adopted during the first quarter of 2013 expired at the close of business on April 29, 2013. AllianceBernstein intends to adopt additional Rule 10b5-1 plans so that the firm can continue to engage in open-market purchases of Holding Units to help fund anticipated obligations under its incentive compensation award program and for other corporate purposes. AllianceBernstein granted to employees and Eligible Directors 6.6 million restricted Holding Unit awards (including 6.5 million granted in January 2013 for 2012 year-end awards) and 9.1 million restricted Holding Unit awards (including 8.7 million granted in January 2012 for 2011 year-end awards) during the first quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively. To fund these awards, AllianceBernstein allocated previously repurchased Holding Units that had been held in AllianceBernstein's consolidated rabbi trust. There were approximately 12.5 million unallocated Holding Units remaining in AllianceBernstein's consolidated rabbi trust as of March 31, 2013. During the first quarter of 2013, Holding issued 392,528 Holding Units upon exercise of options to buy Holding Units. Holding used the proceeds of $6.6 million to purchase the equivalent number of newly-issued AllianceBernstein Units.

The entire disclosure for compensation costs, including compensated absences accruals, compensated absences liability, deferred compensation arrangements and income statement compensation items. Deferred compensation arrangements may include a description of an arrangement with an individual employee, which is generally an employment contract between the entity and a selected officer or key employee containing a promise by the employer to pay certain amounts at designated future dates, usually including a period after retirement, upon compliance with stipulated requirements. This type of arrangement is distinguished from broader based employee benefit plans as it is usually tailored to the employee. Disclosure also typically includes the amount of related compensation expense recognized during the reporting period, the number of shares (units) issued during the period under such arrangements, and the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the related liability.

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