Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)

v3.6.0.2
Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 1 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 108,604 $ 84,310 $ 78,212
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan   4    
Options granted (in shares) | shares   0   0
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan   $ 4,854    
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   $ 7,104 8,144 $ 5,385
Performance-based Share Awards        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 1,859    
Award vesting period   3 years    
Shares granted (in shares) | shares   3,036,000    
Restricted Stock Units        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Incremental shares granted (in shares) | shares   70,000    
Employees And Non Employee Stock Option        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 80,266 $ 70,084 $ 69,754
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares   $ 0.81 $ 1.11 $ 1.05
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised   $ 81,204 $ 117,944 $ 89,428
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares   10,918,000 17,652,000 15,228,000
Restricted Stock Units RSU and Stock Awards        
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]        
Share-based payment expense   $ 28,338 $ 14,226 $ 8,458
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares   2,493,000 2,088,000 732,000
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested   $ 17,807 $ 13,720 $ 4,044
Shares granted (in shares) | shares   18,523,000 8,961,000 6,108,000
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   $ 266,045 $ 261,628  
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses   2 years 6 months    
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   181,148,000    
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