Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 267,427	$ 206,250	$ 536,058	$ 433,551
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized holding gains (losses) on marketable securities, net	451	373	1,047	(87)
Unrealized (losses) gains on foreign currency forward contracts, net of tax of $1.8 million, $0.2 million, $3.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively	(5,776)		(5,998)
Unrealized (losses) gains on foreign currency forward contracts, net of tax of $1.8 million, $0.2 million, $3.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively		25,895		25,033
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(3,876)	8,870	1,091	6,141
Total changes in other comprehensive (loss) income	(9,201)	35,138	(3,860)	31,087
Comprehensive income	258,226	241,388	532,198	464,638
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	1,110	0	(15,928)
Comprehensive income attributable to Vertex	$ 258,226	$ 242,498	$ 532,198	$ 448,710