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, 2009	$ 16,560,088	$ 20,524	$ 4,375,405	$ 11,759,289	$ (105,722)	$ 510,592
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		2,052,441
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		63,710
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	780,732	637	780,095
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	288,749		288,749
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		5,762
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(66,122)	58	(66,180)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(52,667)
Repurchase of common stock	(999,924)	(527)	(999,397)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(399,224)		(353,915)			(45,309)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	28,668		28,668
Stock-based compensation	684,276		684,276
Impact from equity transactions of VMware, Inc.	6,027		(218,642)			224,669
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plan, net of taxes (benefits) of $(5,490), $(11,410) and $(1,392)	(4,057)				(4,057)
Change in market value of investments	33,034				29,941	3,093
Change in market value of derivatives	(8,145)				(8,145)	0
Translation adjustment	(4,634)				(4,634)
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note E)	(235,229)		(235,229)
Net income	1,969,686			1,899,995		69,691
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	18,633,925	20,692	4,283,830	13,659,284	(92,617)	762,736
Ending 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)		51,585
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	673,389	516	672,873
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	382,725		382,725
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		9,869
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(120,080)	99	(120,179)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(81,810)
Repurchase of common stock	(1,999,968)	(818)	(1,999,150)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(399,984)		(354,818)			(45,166)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	3,224		3,224
Stock-based compensation	837,637		837,637
Impact from equity transactions of VMware, Inc.	(309,869)		(416,533)			106,664
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plan, net of taxes (benefits) of $(5,490), $(11,410) and $(1,392)	(22,050)				(22,050)
Change in market value of investments	(25,726)				(22,049)	(3,677)
Change in market value of derivatives	(94,512)				(94,496)	(16)
Translation adjustment	(3,797)				(3,797)
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note E)	115,904		115,904
Net income	2,608,885			2,461,337		147,548
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	20,279,703	20,489	3,405,513	16,120,621	(235,009)	968,089
Ending 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)		41,972
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	560,275	420	559,855
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	267,122		267,122
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		10,819
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(126,071)	109	(126,180)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(27,067)
Repurchase of common stock	(700,000)	(271)	(699,729)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(300,000)		(258,296)			(41,704)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	20,382		20,382
Stock-based compensation	897,617		897,617
Impact from equity transactions of VMware, Inc.	(349,823)		(435,766)			85,943
Recognition of actuarial net gain (loss) from pension and other postretirement plan, net of taxes (benefits) of $(5,490), $(11,410) and $(1,392)	(14,064)				(14,064)
Change in market value of investments	47,921				47,026	895
Change in market value of derivatives	(8,199)				(8,220)	21
Translation adjustment	1,994				1,994
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)		32,345
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	(704)	323	(1,027)
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note E)	61,621		61,621
Net income	2,886,017			2,732,613		153,404
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 23,523,791	$ 21,070	$ 3,691,112	$ 18,853,234	$ (208,273)	$ 1,166,648
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	2,106,959	2,106,959