Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)

v3.8.0.1
Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
shares
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Sep. 30, 2017
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense $ 34,891 $ 30,020 $ 94,588 $ 77,890  
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan     3    
Options granted (in shares) | shares 0 0 0 0  
Expected dividend yield 0.70% 0.00% 0.70% 0.00%  
Deferred compensation contributions $ 240 $ 215 $ 7,595 $ 4,169  
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan 13,890   13,890    
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments 0 0 $ 0 0  
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 1,775 1,640 $ 5,292 4,857  
Employees And Non Employee Stock Option          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense 21,454 21,484 $ 61,091 59,510  
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 1.17    
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised     $ 148,133 59,531  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares     15,092,000    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense 13,437 $ 8,536 $ 33,497 18,380  
Shares granted (in shares) | shares     11,618,000    
Incremental shares granted (in shares) | shares     162,000    
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     5,226,000    
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested     $ 46,920 $ 16,890  
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     929,000    
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 $ 281,311   $ 281,311   $ 266,045
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses     2 years 5 months 23 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 167,055,000   167,055,000    
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