Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Operating activities
Net income	$ 705,672	$ 711,286	$ 684,959
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	141,675	148,313	133,957
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(7,024)	(17,766)	(12,905)
Gain on sale of property, plant, and equipment	(3,189)	(3,719)	(4,729)
Deferred income taxes	35,544	54,319	(21,622)
Share-based compensation	17,717	16,239	12,648
Gain on GPC Asia Pacific equity investment			(59,000)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Trade accounts receivable, net	1,974	(225,178)	(116,080)
Merchandise inventories, net	(21,821)	(100,820)	(79,253)
Trade accounts payable	331,419	292,257	473,424
Other short-term assets and liabilities	967	15,616	(14,418)
Other long-term assets and liabilities	(43,561)	(100,402)	59,750
Changes in operating assets and liabilities	453,701	78,859	371,772
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,159,373	790,145	1,056,731
Investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(109,544)	(107,681)	(124,063)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant, and equipment	8,618	8,866	10,657
Acquisition of businesses and other investing activities	(162,701)	(287,900)	(712,173)
Net cash used in investing activities	(263,627)	(386,715)	(825,579)
Financing activities
Proceeds from debt	3,862,224	2,727,924	3,019,931
Payments on debt	(4,005,191)	(2,735,862)	(2,995,335)
Share-based awards exercised, net of taxes paid	(9,572)	(22,051)	(15,728)
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	7,024	17,766	12,905
Dividends paid	(368,284)	(347,271)	(326,217)
Purchase of stock	(292,275)	(95,946)	(120,673)
Net cash used in financing activities	(806,074)	(455,440)	(425,117)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(15,771)	(7,153)	(12,237)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	73,901	(59,163)	(206,202)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	137,730	196,893	403,095
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	211,631	137,730	196,893
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes	352,153	408,604	342,372
Interest	$ 23,687	$ 25,155	$ 27,221