Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net loss	$ (291,267)	$ (39,537)	$ (10,550)	$ (111,790)
Changes in other comprehensive loss:
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on marketable securities, net of tax of zero, respectively	5,961	(96)	(7,786)	104
Unrealized (losses) gains on foreign currency forward contracts, net of tax of $0.9 million, $0.2 million, $2.9 million and $(0.4) million, respectively	(5,453)	2,149	(27,379)	1,936
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(3,884)	(2,508)	(11,137)	(7,709)
Total changes in other comprehensive loss	(3,376)	(455)	(46,302)	(5,669)
Comprehensive loss	(294,643)	(39,992)	(56,852)	(117,459)
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	188,315	696	173,350	(33,207)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Vertex	$ (106,328)	$ (39,296)	$ 116,498	$ (150,666)