Common Stock	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]
Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure	Common Stock The Class A common stockholder has the entire voting rights of Federated; however, without the consent of the majority of the holders of the Class B common stock, the Class A common stockholder cannot alter Federated's structure, dispose of all or substantially all of Federated's assets, amend the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Federated to adversely affect the Class B common stockholders, or liquidate or dissolve Federated. With respect to dividends, distributions and liquidation rights, the Class A common stock and Class B common stock have equal preferences and rights. (a) Dividends Cash dividends of $205.5 million, $104.6 million and $104.8 million were paid in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, to holders of Federated common stock. Of the amount paid in 2016, $102.2 million represented a $1.00 special dividend paid in the fourth quarter. All dividends were considered ordinary dividends for tax purposes. (b) Treasury Stock In February 2015, the board of directors authorized a share repurchase program that allows Federated to buy back up to 4 million shares of Federated Class B common stock with no stated expiration date. This program was fulfilled in December 2016. In October 2016, the board of directors authorized a share repurchase program that allows Federated to buy back up to 4 million additional shares of Federated Class B common stock with no stated expiration date. The program authorizes executive management to determine the timing and the amount of shares for each purchase. The repurchased stock is to be held in treasury for employee share-based compensation plans, potential acquisitions and other corporate activities, unless Federated's board of directors subsequently determines to retire the repurchased stock and restore the shares to authorized but unissued status (rather than holding the shares in treasury). During the year ended December 31, 2016, Federated repurchased 3.1 million shares of Class B common stock for $83.6 million, the majority of which were repurchased in the open market. The remaining repurchased shares represent restricted stock forfeited from employees and are not counted against the board-approved share repurchase program. At December 31, 2016, 3.9 million shares remained available to be purchased under Federated's buyback program.

Common Stock

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract]

Common Stock

The Class A common stockholder has the entire voting rights of Federated; however, without the consent of the majority of the holders of the Class B common stock, the Class A common stockholder cannot alter Federated's structure, dispose of all or substantially all of Federated's assets, amend the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Federated to adversely affect the Class B common stockholders, or liquidate or dissolve Federated. With respect to dividends, distributions and liquidation rights, the Class A common stock and Class B common stock have equal preferences and rights.

(a) Dividends

Cash dividends of $205.5 million, $104.6 million and $104.8 million were paid in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, to holders of Federated common stock. Of the amount paid in 2016, $102.2 million represented a $1.00 special dividend paid in the fourth quarter. All dividends were considered ordinary dividends for tax purposes.

(b) Treasury Stock

In February 2015, the board of directors authorized a share repurchase program that allows Federated to buy back up to 4 million shares of Federated Class B common stock with no stated expiration date. This program was fulfilled in December 2016. In October 2016, the board of directors authorized a share repurchase program that allows Federated to buy back up to 4 million additional shares of Federated Class B common stock with no stated expiration date. The program authorizes executive management to determine the timing and the amount of shares for each purchase. The repurchased stock is to be held in treasury for employee share-based compensation plans, potential acquisitions and other corporate activities, unless Federated's board of directors subsequently determines to retire the repurchased stock and restore the shares to authorized but unissued status (rather than holding the shares in treasury). During the year ended December 31, 2016, Federated repurchased 3.1 million shares of Class B common stock for $83.6 million, the majority of which were repurchased in the open market. The remaining repurchased shares represent restricted stock forfeited from employees and are not counted against the board-approved share repurchase program. At December 31, 2016, 3.9 million shares remained available to be purchased under Federated's buyback program.