Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)

v3.7.0.1
Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
shares
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense $ 30,251 $ 24,177 $ 59,697 $ 47,870  
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan     3    
Options granted (in shares) | shares 0 0 0 0  
Expected dividend yield 0.80% 0.00% 0.80% 0.00%  
Deferred compensation contributions $ 334 $ 156 $ 7,355 $ 3,954  
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan 13,111   $ 13,111    
Sirius XM Savings Plan          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Minimum of employee contributions of pre-tax eligible earnings to Company 401(k) Savings Plan     1.00%    
Maximum of employee contributions of pre-tax eligible earnings to Company 401(k) Savings Plan     50.00%    
Percent of Company match of employee's voluntary contributions     50.00%    
Percent of employee's pre-tax salary     6.00%    
Maximum annual contributions per employee, percent     3.00%    
Vesting percentage of employer contributions for each year of employment     33.33%    
Savings plan, fully vested period     3 years    
Recognized cost 1,835 1,526 $ 3,517 3,217  
Employees And Non Employee Stock Option          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense 20,125 18,987 $ 39,637 38,026  
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 1.04    
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised     $ 47,572 12,942  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares     5,364,000    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense 10,126 $ 5,190 $ 20,060 9,844  
Shares granted (in shares) | shares     1,660,000    
Incremental shares granted (in shares) | shares     108,000    
Restricted Stock Units          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares     478,000    
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested     $ 4,802 $ 765  
Performance-based Share Awards          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Award vesting period     3 years    
Shares granted (in shares) | shares     603,000    
Restricted Stock Units RSU and Stock Options          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Total unrecognized compensation costs related to unvested share based payment awards for restricted stock units, net of estimated forfeitures $ 231,049   $ 231,049   $ 266,045
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses     2 years 2 months 12 days    
2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Restricted stock conversion to common stock     1    
Common stock available for future grants (in shares) | shares 182,345,000   182,345,000    
2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan | Employees And Non Employee Stock Option          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Stock option expiration period     10 years    
2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan | Minimum          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Award vesting period     3 years    
2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan | Maximum          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Award vesting period     4 years