Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)

v3.10.0.1
Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
USD ($)
shares
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
Jun. 30, 2018
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Jun. 30, 2017
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2017
USD ($)
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense $ 36,215 $ 30,251 $ 70,448 $ 59,697  
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan     3    
Options granted (in shares) | shares     0 0  
Deferred compensation contributions 307 334 $ 7,138 $ 7,355  
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan 22,375   22,375   $ 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 2,159 1,835 $ 4,028 3,517  
Employees and Non Employee Stock Option          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense 20,776 20,125 $ 40,435 39,637  
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares     $ 1.19    
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised     $ 139,812 47,572  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares     12,054,000    
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Shares          
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]          
Share-based payment expense 15,439 $ 10,126 $ 30,013 20,060  
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested     $ 22,656 $ 4,802  
Shares granted (in shares) | shares     7,123,000    
Incremental shares granted (in shares) | shares     126,000    
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     1,821,000    
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     3,768,000    
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 $ 251,588   $ 251,588   $ 241,521
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses     1 year 8 months 19 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 171,619,000   171,619,000    
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