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 9 Months Ended
Aug. 05, 2016
shares
May 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
shares
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
shares
Sep. 30, 2016
USD ($)
plan
$ / shares
shares
Sep. 30, 2015
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Share-based payment expense     $ 30,020 $ 23,393 $ 77,890 $ 62,334  
Number of other share-based benefit plans | plan         4    
Fair value of investment assets related to deferred compensation plan     4,625   $ 4,625    
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     1,640 1,486 $ 4,857 6,026  
Employees And Non Employee Stock Option              
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Share-based payment expense     21,484 19,418 $ 59,510 52,662  
Options granted (in shares) | shares         53,346,000    
Weighted average grant date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares         $ 0.83    
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised         $ 59,531 85,387  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares         8,171,000    
Restricted Stock Units RSU and Stock Awards              
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Share-based payment expense     8,536 $ 3,975 $ 18,380 9,672  
Number of net settled shares issued as a result of exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units (in shares) | shares         2,387,000    
Awards granted (in shares) | shares         17,453,000    
Total intrinsic value of restricted stock units and stock awards vested         $ 16,890 $ 9,565  
Performance-based Share Awards              
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Share-based payment expense     669        
Award vesting period 3 years            
Awards granted (in shares) | shares 3,036,000            
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     $ 281,678   $ 281,678   $ 261,628
Weighted average expected period for recognition of compensation expenses         2 years 8 months 12 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     181,711,000   181,711,000    
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          
Minimum | 2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan              
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Award vesting period   3 years          
Maximum | 2015 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan              
Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award [Line Items]              
Award vesting period   4 years