Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Partners' Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Receivables from Affiliates	AB Holding Units held for Long-term Incentive Compensation Plans	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss)	Non-redeemable Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities	General Partner’s Capital	Limited Partners' Capital
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2022		$ (4,270)	$ (95,318)	$ (129,477)		$ 45,985	$ 4,648,113
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	$ 382,678				$ 515	3,699	366,189
Cash distributions						(4,357)	(430,856)
Long-term incentive compensation		406	14,961			3	327
(Retirement) Issuance of AB Units, net						(97)	(9,784)
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding		(1,284)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(18,662)
Retirement (Issuance) of AB Units, net			10,756
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(1,080)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	10,719			10,719
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	604			604
Distributions to non-controlling interests, net					(2,473)
Adjustment					(264)
Contributions from non-controlling interest					0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2023	4,406,577	(5,148)	(89,343)	(118,154)		45,233	4,573,989
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2022					12,607
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2023					10,385
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2023		(5,097)	(96,077)	(122,998)		45,595	4,609,592
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	178,760				515	1,758	173,979
Cash distributions						(2,136)	(211,158)
Long-term incentive compensation		215	8,376			(12)	(1,111)
(Retirement) Issuance of AB Units, net						28	2,687
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding		(266)
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(572)
Retirement (Issuance) of AB Units, net			(1,754)
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			684
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	4,541			4,541
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	303			303
Distributions to non-controlling interests, net					(2,473)
Adjustment					0
Contributions from non-controlling interest					0
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2023	4,406,577	(5,148)	(89,343)	(118,154)		45,233	4,573,989
Balance, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2023					12,343
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2023					10,385
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total capital	4,416,962
Total capital	4,453,362
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2023	4,448,790	(4,490)	(76,363)	(106,364)		45,388	4,590,619
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	539,707				1,568	5,275	522,224
Cash distributions						(4,816)	(476,293)
Long-term incentive compensation		506	20,379			56	5,497
(Retirement) Issuance of AB Units, net						(23)	(2,900)
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding		162
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(33,789)
Retirement (Issuance) of AB Units, net			3,627
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			(6,466)
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	(1,636)			(1,636)
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	564			564
Distributions to non-controlling interests, net					(2,695)
Adjustment					0
Contributions from non-controlling interest					95
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2024	4,481,157	(3,822)	(92,612)	(107,436)		45,880	4,639,147
Balance, beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2023					4,572
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2024					3,540
Partners' capital, beginning balance at Mar. 31, 2024		(4,686)	(95,859)	(115,894)		45,325	4,584,317
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	313,752				1,450	3,096	306,476
Cash distributions						(2,351)	(232,714)
Long-term incentive compensation		291	11,618			(11)	(1,177)
(Retirement) Issuance of AB Units, net						(179)	(17,755)
Capital contributions from (to) AB Holding		573
Purchases of AB Holding Units to fund long-term compensation plans, net			(28,237)
Retirement (Issuance) of AB Units, net			19,110
Re-valuation of AB Holding Units held in rabbi trust			756
Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax	8,564			8,564
Changes in employee benefit related items, net of tax	(106)			(106)
Distributions to non-controlling interests, net					(2,485)
Adjustment					0
Contributions from non-controlling interest					95
Partners' capital, ending balance at Jun. 30, 2024	4,481,157	$ (3,822)	$ (92,612)	$ (107,436)		$ 45,880	$ 4,639,147
Balance, beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2024					4,480
Balance, end of period at Jun. 30, 2024					$ 3,540
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Total capital	$ 4,484,697