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
Mar. 31, 2018
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Mar. 31, 2017
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based payment expense $ 34,233 $ 29,446  
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan 3    
Options granted (in shares) | shares 0 0  
Deferred compensation contributions $ 6,831 $ 7,021  
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan 21,672   $ 14,641
Unrealized gain (loss) on investments $ 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 $ 1,869 1,682  
Employees and Non Employee Stock Option      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based payment expense $ 19,659 19,512  
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares $ 1.10    
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised $ 55,205 34,662  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares 5,199,000    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]      
Share-based payment expense $ 14,574 9,934  
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested $ 925 $ 1,745  
Shares granted (in shares) | shares 5,049,000    
Incremental shares granted (in shares) | shares 69,000    
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 86,000    
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 2,499,000    
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 $ 259,076   $ 241,521
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses 2 years 8 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 165,795,000    
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