Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Nov. 30, 2014	Nov. 30, 2013
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Apollo (basic and diluted)	$ 33,785us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ 98,891us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Basic weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	108,581	113,326
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding (in shares)	109,378	113,960
Basic income per share attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.87us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted income per share attributable to Apollo (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.87us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Restricted stock units and performance share awards [Member]
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of share-based awards (in shares)	618	44
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share computation (in shares)	316	1,012
Stock options [Member]
Anti-dilutive securities [Line Items]
Dilutive effect of share-based awards (in shares)	179	590
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from earnings per share computation (in shares)	2,476	3,240

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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