Income Taxes (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2013

Income Taxes [Abstract]

Effective Income Tax Rate Reconciliation

	Three Months Ended June 30,									Six Months Ended June 30,
	2013			2012			% Change			2013			2012			% Change
	(in thousands)
Net income attributable to AllianceBernstein Unitholders	$	120,714		$	74,185			62.7	%	$	235,230		$	161,463			45.7	%
Multiplied by: weighted average equity ownership interest		37.6	%		37.5	%					37.6	%		37.5	%
Equity in net income attributable to AllianceBernstein Unitholders	$	45,440		$	27,803			63.4		$	88,437		$	60,510			46.2
AllianceBernstein qualifying revenues	$	511,168		$	485,018			5.4		$	993,754		$	935,397			6.2
Multiplied by: weighted average equity ownership interest for calculating tax		28.3	%		37.5	%					28.0	%		37.5	%
Multiplied by: federal tax		3.5	%		3.5	%					3.5	%		3.5	%
Federal income taxes		5,064			6,364						9,730			12,272
State income taxes		100			100						200			200
Total income taxes	$	5,164		$	6,464			(20.1	)	$	9,930		$	12,472			(20.4	)
Effective tax  rate		11.4	%		23.2	%					11.2	%		20.6	%