Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests (USD $) In Thousands		Total		Redeemable noncontrolling interests [Member]	Apollo Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]	Apollo Class B voting common stock [Member]	Permanent Equity [Member]	Common stock [Member] Apollo Class A nonvoting common stock [Member]	Common stock [Member] Apollo Class B voting common stock [Member]	Additional paid-in capital [Member]	Apollo Class A treasury stock [Member]	Retained earnings [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member]		Total Apollo shareholders' equity [Member]		Noncontrolling interests [Member]
Redeemable noncontrolling interests at Aug. 31, 2013				$ 0
Balance at Aug. 31, 2013		1,118,009						103	1	0	(3,824,758)	4,978,815	(36,563)		1,117,598		411
Treasury stock outstanding (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2013											75,182
Shares at Aug. 31, 2013					188,007	475
Share repurchases (in shares)					0	0					2,403
Share repurchases		(72,237)		0	0	0				0	(72,237)	0	0		(72,237)		0
Share reissuances (in shares)					0	0					(391)
Share reissuances		1,793		0	0	0				15,008	16,601	200	0		1,793		0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans		(7,502)		0	0	0				(7,502)	0	0	0		(7,502)		0
Share-based compensation		22,510		0	0	0				22,510	0	0	0		22,510		0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax		7,318	[1]	676	0	0	6,642			0	0	0	6,539	[1]	6,539	[1]	103
Available-for-sale securities adjustment, net of tax	[1]	0
Acquisition		0		51,197	0	0				0	0	0	0		0		0
Net income (loss)		113,703			0	0				0	0	113,496	0		113,496		207
Net income (loss)				(2,485)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests at Feb. 28, 2014				49,388
Balance at Feb. 28, 2014		1,182,918						103	1	0	(3,880,394)	5,092,511	(30,024)		1,182,197		721
Shares at Feb. 28, 2014					188,007	475
Treasury stock outstanding (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2014											77,194
Redeemable noncontrolling interests at Aug. 31, 2014		64,527		64,527
Balance at Aug. 31, 2014		1,180,802						103	1	0	(3,936,607)	5,143,949	(27,320)		1,180,126		676
Treasury stock outstanding (in shares) at Aug. 31, 2014											79,585
Shares at Aug. 31, 2014					188,007	475
Share repurchases (in shares)					0	0					1,527
Share repurchases		(40,318)		0	0	0				0	(40,318)	0	0		(40,318)		0
Share reissuances (in shares)					0	0					(282)
Share reissuances		995		0	0	0				21,208	11,868	10,335	0		995		0
Net tax effect for stock incentive plans		(2,370)		0	0	0				(2,370)	0	0	0		(2,370)		0
Share-based compensation		21,914		0	0	0				21,914	0	0	0		21,914		0
Currency translation adjustment, net of tax		(37,992)	[1]	(10,424)	0	0	(27,568)			0	0	0	(27,495)		(27,495)		(73)
Available-for-sale securities adjustment, net of tax		241	[1]	0	0	0				0	0	0	241	[1]	241	[1]	0
Acquisition		0		3,437	0	0				0	0	0	0		0		0
Redemption value adjustments				1,993	0	0	1,993			0	0	1,993	0		1,993		0
Net income (loss)		243			0	0				0	0	175	0		175		68
Net income (loss)				(3,912)
Other		1,664		0	0	0				1,664	0	0	0		1,664		0
Redeemable noncontrolling interests at Feb. 28, 2015		55,621		55,621
Balance at Feb. 28, 2015		$ 1,133,610						$ 103	$ 1	$ 0	$ (3,965,057)	$ 5,152,466	$ (54,574)		$ 1,132,939		$ 671
Shares at Feb. 28, 2015					188,007	475
Treasury stock outstanding (in shares) at Feb. 28, 2015											80,830

[1] The tax effect on each component of other comprehensive (loss) income during the three and six months ended February 28, 2015 and 2014, respectively, is not significant.