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Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Basic (loss) income from continuing operations per share attributable to Vertex common shareholder calculation:
(Loss) income from continuing operations	$ (176,447)	$ (169,996)	$ (159,089)	$ (232,111)	$ (20,920)	$ (121,455)	$ (54,351)	$ (306,896)	$ (737,643)	$ (503,622)	$ 32,271
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									0us-gaap_UndistributedEarnings	0us-gaap_UndistributedEarnings	(322)us-gaap_UndistributedEarnings
(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to Vertex common shareholders—basic									(737,643)	(503,622)	31,949
Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding									235,307	224,906	211,946
Basic (loss) income from continuing operations per common share attributable to Vertex (usd per share)									$ (3.14)	$ (2.24)	$ 0.15
Diluted (loss) income from continuing operations per share attributable to Vertex common shareholder calculation:
Less: Undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities									0us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsDiluted	0us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsDiluted	(317)us-gaap_UndistributedEarningsDiluted
(Loss) income from continuing operations attributable to Vertex common shareholders—diluted									$ (737,643)	$ (503,622)	$ 31,954
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:
Stock options (shares)									0	0	3,219
Other (shares)									0	0	97
Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding									235,307	224,906	215,262
Diluted (loss) income from continuing operations per common share attributable to Vertex (usd per share)									$ (3.14)	$ (2.24)	$ 0.15
Stock options
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									12,003	15,729	16,507
Convertible senior subordinated notes
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									0	0	8,192
Unvested restricted stock and restricted stock units
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)									3,091	2,165	2,253