Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Entities - Partnership's Non-Controlling Interests in Income (Loss) of Consolidated Entities (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to other non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	$ 247.9	$ 780.6
Net income (loss) attributable to partners' capital appropriated for CLOs	(257.1)	105.1
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	177.2	(20.8)
Non-controlling interests in income of consolidated entities	168.0	864.9
Non-Carlyle interests in Consolidated Funds [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to other non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	227.1	772.2
Non-Carlyle interests in majority-owned Subsidiaries [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to other non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	3.5	7.4
Non-controlling interest in carried interest and cash held for carried interest distributions [Member]
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Net income attributable to other non-controlling interests in consolidated entities	$ 17.3	$ 1.0