Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011	May 31, 2012	May 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share (Details) [Abstract]
Net income (loss) attributable to Apollo (basic and diluted)	$ 134,034	$ 212,440	$ 347,230	$ 383,815
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	118,134	139,856	124,560	142,845
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	118,793	140,343	125,335	143,222
Basic income (loss) per share attributable to Apollo	$ 1.13	$ 1.52	$ 2.79	$ 2.69
Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to Apollo	$ 1.13	$ 1.51	$ 2.77	$ 2.68
Stock options [Member]
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of share-based awards	1	70	25	91
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share computation	8,600	9,500	8,700	9,500
Restricted stock units and performance share awards [Member]
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of share-based awards	658	417	750	286
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share computation	317	27	10	279