CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Non-controlling Interest in VMware
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 18,633,925	$ 20,692	$ 4,283,830	$ 13,659,284	$ (92,617)	$ 762,736
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		2,069,246
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		32,446
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	422,506	325	422,181
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	288,841		288,841
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		4,826
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(70,750)	48	(70,798)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(41,572)
Repurchase of common stock	(1,099,997)	(416)	(1,099,581)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(99,930)		(89,727)			(10,203)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	3,224		3,224
Stock-based compensation	426,111		426,111
Impact from equity transactions of VMware, Inc.	(152,558)		(222,787)			70,229
Change in market value of investments	(13,249)				(9,782)	(3,467)
Changes in market value of derivatives	(16,955)				(16,955)
Translation adjustment	25,757				25,757
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note 4)	59,322		59,322
Net income	1,094,181			1,023,642		70,539
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	19,500,428	20,649	4,000,616	14,682,926	(93,597)	889,834
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2011		2,064,946
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	20,279,703	20,489	3,405,513	16,120,621	(235,009)	968,089
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011	2,048,890	2,048,890
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		22,405
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	299,621	224	299,397
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	183,572		183,572
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		4,979
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(66,841)	50	(66,891)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(9,899)
Repurchase of common stock	(259,998)	(99)	(259,899)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(94,939)		(82,440)			(12,499)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	1,369		1,369
Stock-based compensation	424,650		424,650
Impact from equity transactions of VMware, Inc.	(105,420)		(172,315)			66,895
Change in market value of investments	43,654				43,289	365
Changes in market value of derivatives	(3,633)				(3,689)	56
Translation adjustment	(7,697)				(7,697)
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)		32,345
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	(702)	323	(1,025)
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note 4)	30,636		30,636
Net income	1,315,397			1,236,356		79,041
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 22,039,372	$ 20,987	$ 3,762,567	$ 17,356,977	$ (203,106)	$ 1,101,947
Ending Balance (in shares) at Jun. 30, 2012	2,098,720	2,098,720