Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 57,518	$ 128,456	$ 593,576	$ 562,007
Changes in other comprehensive income:
Unrealized holding gains on marketable securities, net	64	224	1,111	137
Unrealized gains on foreign currency forward contracts, net of tax of $2.2 million, zero, $5.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively	12,812		6,814
Unrealized gains on foreign currency forward contracts, net of tax of $2.2 million, zero, $5.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively		4,029		29,062
Foreign currency translation adjustment	9,172	659	10,263	6,800
Total changes in other comprehensive income	22,048	4,912	18,188	35,999
Comprehensive income	79,566	133,368	611,764	598,006
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest	0	290	0	(15,638)
Comprehensive income attributable to Vertex	$ 79,566	$ 133,658	$ 611,764	$ 582,368