Shareholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (Details) (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014	Feb. 28, 2015	Feb. 28, 2014
Share Repurchases [Line Items]
Accrued share repurchase	$ 1,600,000		$ 1,600,000
Treasury stock purchases, cost			40,318,000	72,237,000
Apollo Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]
Share Repurchases [Line Items]
Stock repurchase program, remaining authorized repurchased amount	52,200,000		52,200,000
Aggregate share repurchase program	250,000,000		250,000,000
Treasury stock reissued, shares	55	110	282	391
Share repurchases (in shares)			0	0
Treasury stock purchases, cost			0	0
Apollo Class A nonvoting common stock [Member] \| Share Repurchases [Member]
Share Repurchases [Line Items]
Share repurchases (in shares)	763	1,713	1,440	2,290
Treasury stock purchases, average price per share	$ 26.22	31.93	$ 26.45	$ 30.44
Treasury stock purchases, cost	20,000,000	54,684,000	38,092,000	69,684,000
Apollo Class A nonvoting common stock [Member] \| Repurchases Related To Restricted Stock Units [Member]
Share Repurchases [Line Items]
Share repurchases (in shares)	9	25	87	113
Treasury stock purchases, cost	$ 254,000	682,000	$ 2,226,000	$ 2,553,000

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Number of treasury shares (units) reissued during the period, including reissuance of shares (units) held in treasury used to satisfy equity-based compensation obligations exercised by the holders of such rights. Upon reissuance of shares (units) from treasury, either the common or preferred stock (unit) reissued is outstanding.

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- Definition

Amount payable to broker-dealers and clearing organizations, including, but not limited to, securities failed-to-receive, certain deposits received for securities loaned, open transactions, and floor-brokerage payables.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 940

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35710130&loc=d3e41645-110958

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Amount of stock repurchase plan authorized.

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Amount remaining of a stock repurchase plan authorized.

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Total cost of shares repurchased divided by the total number of shares repurchased.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6405813&loc=d3e23239-112655

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Number of shares that have been repurchased during the period and are being held in treasury.

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- Definition

Equity impact of the cost of common and preferred stock that were repurchased during the period. Recorded using the cost method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

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-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

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