Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 25, 2011	Sep. 26, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations (Note 3)	$ 901,601	$ 1,169,502
Cash flows from investing activities of continuing operations:
Capital expenditures	(106,115)	(77,559)
Origination of finance receivables	(2,164,144)	(1,841,403)
Collections on finance receivables	2,130,369	2,041,976
Purchases of marketable securities	(142,653)	(68,497)
Sales and redemptions of marketable securities	104,975	54,579
Net cash (used by) provided by investing activities of continuing operations	(177,568)	109,096
Cash flows from financing activities of continuing operations:
Proceeds from issuance of medium-term notes	394,277
Proceeds from securitization debt	571,276
Repayments of securitization debt	(1,333,541)	(1,518,528)
Net increase in credit facilities and unsecured commercial paper	182,058
Net borrowings of asset-backed commercial paper	(483)	(845)
Net change in restricted cash	50,679	78,928
Dividends	(82,557)	(70,480)
Purchase of common stock for treasury	(97,456)	(1,687)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payments	2,702	3,590
Issuance of common stock under employee stock option plans	7,763	7,466
Net cash used by financing activities of continuing operations	(305,282)	(1,355,869)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations	(11,857)	4,921
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations	406,894	(72,350)
Cash flows from discontinued operations:
Cash flows used by operating activities of discontinued operations	(74)	(68,650)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations		(1,195)
Net cash used by discontinued operations, total	(74)	(69,845)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	406,820	(142,195)	(142,195)
Cash and cash equivalents:
Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period	1,021,933	1,630,433
Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - beginning of period		6,063
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	406,820	(142,195)	(142,195)
Less: Cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations - end of period			6,063
Cash and cash equivalents - end of period	$ 1,428,753	$ 1,494,301	$ 1,630,433