Acquisitions - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended		35 Months Ended
	Feb. 03, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Current year goodwill impairment charge			$ 7.0
Impairment of intangible assets			186.6
Investment Solutions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Expected additional expenses to be incurred		$ 0.5		$ 0.5
Diversified Global Asset Management Corporation
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Date of acquisition	Feb. 03, 2014
Equity interest (as a percent)	100.00%
Fee-earning assets under management	$ 2,900.0
Assets under management	3,600.0
Cash	$ 8.0
Purchase price - newly issued common units (in shares)	662,134
The Carlyle Group L.P. common units	$ 23.1
Contingent consideration - cash	23.7
Contingent consideration - common units	$ 47.3
Contingent consideration payment year	2021
Amount paid under contingent compensation arrangements				$ 18.0
Current year goodwill impairment charge			7.0
Impairment of intangible assets			$ 15.0
Minimum amount of estimated employee separation and other contract termination costs to be incurred with wind down of hedge fund of funds business		10.4
Maximum amount of estimated employee separation and other contract termination costs to be incurred with wind down of hedge fund of funds business		$ 6.9