Wealth Management Joint Venture	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Wealth Management Joint Venture Disclosures	3. Wealth Management Joint Venture. On May 31, 2009, the Company and Citi consummated the combination of the Company's Global Wealth Management Group and the businesses of Citi's Smith Barney in the U.S., Quilter Holdings Ltd. (see Note 25) in the U.K. and Smith Barney Australia (collectively, “Smith Barney”). The combined businesses operate as Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Prior to September 2012, the Company owned 51% and Citi owned 49% of the Wealth Management JV. In September 2012, the Company reached an agreement with Citi to purchase an additional 14% stake in the Wealth Management JV, and a transfer of approximately $5.4 billion of deposits at no premium from Citi. In addition, the agreement specifies that the Company must use reasonable best efforts to obtain the regulatory approvals required to purchase the remaining 35% stake in the Wealth Management JV by June 1, 2015 and, subject to receipt of such approvals, the Company must consummate such acquisition by that date at a purchase price of $4.725 billion (or a pro rata portion of such amount if less than 35% of the total outstanding stake is being purchased) and receive a transfer of deposits currently estimated to be $59 billion at no premium from Citi, no later than June 1, 2015. The Company completed the purchase of the additional 14% stake in the Wealth Management JV from Citi on September 17, 2012 for $1.89 billion. The related $5.4 billion of deposits were transferred at no premium in October of 2012. At December 31, 2012, the Company held a 65% stake in the Wealth Management JV. The change in the terms of the Wealth Management JV's agreement to acquire the remaining noncontrolling interest resulted in a reclassification of approximately $4.3 billion from nonredeemable noncontrolling interests to redeemable noncontrolling interests on the consolidated statement of financial condition. At December 31, 2012, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is not reflected as a liability at its redemption amount because it is not deemed probable that the noncontrolling interest will become redeemable due to the required regulatory approvals.

Wealth Management Joint Venture

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]

Wealth Management Joint Venture Disclosures

3. Wealth Management Joint Venture.

On May 31, 2009, the Company and Citi consummated the combination of the Company's Global Wealth Management Group and the businesses of Citi's Smith Barney in the U.S., Quilter Holdings Ltd. (see Note 25) in the U.K. and Smith Barney Australia (collectively, “Smith Barney”). The combined businesses operate as Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Prior to September 2012, the Company owned 51% and Citi owned 49% of the Wealth Management JV.

In September 2012, the Company reached an agreement with Citi to purchase an additional 14% stake in the Wealth Management JV, and a transfer of approximately $5.4 billion of deposits at no premium from Citi. In addition, the agreement specifies that the Company must use reasonable best efforts to obtain the regulatory approvals required to purchase the remaining 35% stake in the Wealth Management JV by June 1, 2015 and, subject to receipt of such approvals, the Company must consummate such acquisition by that date at a purchase price of $4.725 billion (or a pro rata portion of such amount if less than 35% of the total outstanding stake is being purchased) and receive a transfer of deposits currently estimated to be $59 billion at no premium from Citi, no later than June 1, 2015.

The Company completed the purchase of the additional 14% stake in the Wealth Management JV from Citi on September 17, 2012 for $1.89 billion. The related $5.4 billion of deposits were transferred at no premium in October of 2012. At December 31, 2012, the Company held a 65% stake in the Wealth Management JV.

The change in the terms of the Wealth Management JV's agreement to acquire the remaining noncontrolling interest resulted in a reclassification of approximately $4.3 billion from nonredeemable noncontrolling interests to redeemable noncontrolling interests on the consolidated statement of financial condition. At December 31, 2012, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is not reflected as a liability at its redemption amount because it is not deemed probable that the noncontrolling interest will become redeemable due to the required regulatory approvals.