Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)

v3.5.0.2
Benefit Plans - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 1 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
May 31, 2015
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Jun. 30, 2015
USD ($)
shares
Jun. 30, 2016
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Jun. 30, 2015
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Share-based payment expense   $ 24,177 $ 19,524 $ 47,870 $ 38,941  
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan       4    
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan   4,240   $ 4,240    
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   1,526 1,513 $ 3,217 4,540  
Employees And Non Employee Stock Option            
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Share-based payment expense   18,987 16,553 $ 38,026 33,244  
Options granted (in shares) | shares       16,007,000    
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares       $ 0.78    
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised       $ 12,942 39,795  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares       2,020,000    
Restricted Stock Units RSU and Stock Awards            
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Share-based payment expense   5,190 $ 2,971 $ 9,844 5,697  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares       125,000    
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested       $ 765 $ 300  
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   $ 211,320   $ 211,320   $ 261,628
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses       2 years 4 months 24 days    
Third Parties            
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]            
Options granted (in shares) | shares   0 0 0 0  
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   230,845,000   230,845,000    
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