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, 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
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		15,145
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	180,189	152	180,037
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	143,182		143,182
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		3,330
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(47,675)	33	(47,708)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	39,993		34,485			5,508
Stock-based compensation	203,043		203,043
Impact from equity transactions of VMware, Inc.	96,596		18,991			77,605
Change in market value of investments	24,959				24,464	495
Changes in market value of derivatives	10,034				9,867
Translation adjustment	14,986				14,986
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)	(15,679)		(15,679)
Net income	625,979			586,842		39,137
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	21,505,980	20,997	3,883,227	16,707,463	(185,692)	1,079,985
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2012		2,099,710
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	23,523,791	21,070	3,691,112	18,853,234	(208,273)	1,166,648
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012	2,106,959	2,106,959
Increase (Decrease) in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans (in shares)		3,354
Stock issued through stock option and stock purchase plans	42,371	34	42,337
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	44,958		44,958
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net (in shares)		3,175
Restricted stock grants, cancellations and withholdings, net	(38,475)	31	(38,506)
Repurchase of common stock (in shares)		(12,648)
Repurchase of common stock	(308,016)	(126)	(307,890)
EMC purchase of VMware stock	(114,874)		(95,416)			(19,458)
Stock options issued in business acquisitions	(460)		(460)
Stock-based compensation	228,373		228,373
Impact from equity transactions of VMware, Inc.	(135,755)		(131,976)			(3,779)
Change in market value of investments	(3,042)				(3,105)	63
Changes in market value of derivatives	492				612	(120)
Translation adjustment	(31,205)				(31,205)
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement (in shares)		0
Convertible debt conversions and warrant settlement	(235)	0	(235)
Reclassification of convertible debt (to)/from mezzanine (Note 4)	16,089		16,089
Net income	614,954			580,050		34,904
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2013	$ 23,838,966	$ 21,009	$ 3,448,386	$ 19,433,284	$ (241,971)	$ 1,178,258
Ending Balance (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2013	2,100,840	2,100,840