CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Net income	$ 625,979,000	$ 502,554,000
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes (benefits):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	14,986,000	19,143,000
Changes in market value of investments:
Changes in unrealized gains, net of taxes of $13,045 and $8,959	25,862,000	20,733,000
Less: reclassification adjustment for net gains realized in net income, net of taxes of $1,650 and $1,257	(903,000)	(5,446,000)
Net change in market value of investments	24,959,000	15,287,000
Changes in market value of derivatives:
Changes in market value of derivatives, net of taxes of $5,928 and $3,392	10,001,000	(3,560,000)
Less: reclassification adjustment for net losses included in net income, net of tax benefits of $(5) and $(1,109)	33,000	7,766,000
Net change in market value of derivatives	10,034,000	4,206,000
Other comprehensive income	49,979,000	38,636,000
Comprehensive income	675,958,000	541,190,000
Less: Net income attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	(39,137,000)	(25,406,000)
Less: Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to the non-controlling interest in VMware, Inc.	(662,000)	(2,922,000)
Comprehensive income attributable to EMC Corporation	$ 636,159,000	$ 512,862,000