UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,917,815	$ 1,105,941	$ 5,493,365	$ 2,924,131
Operating expenses:
Cost of service	900,921	427,720	2,728,532	1,035,225
Selling, general and administrative	726,475	504,184	2,122,862	1,293,651
Total operating expenses	1,627,396	931,904	4,851,394	2,328,876
Operating income	290,419	174,037	641,971	595,255
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income	29,983	11,232	35,277	20,342
Interest and other expense	(82,976)	(96,161)	(258,475)	(220,858)
Total nonoperating income (expense)	(52,993)	(84,929)	(223,198)	(200,516)
Income before income taxes and equity in income of equity method investments	237,426	89,108	418,773	394,739
Income tax (expense) benefit	(42,834)	16,623	(59,173)	(39,765)
Income before equity in income of equity method investments	194,592	105,731	359,600	354,974
Equity in income of equity method investments, net of tax	35,638	0	60,682	0
Net income	230,230	105,731	420,282	354,974
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	(9,259)	(10,687)	(18,406)	(27,132)
Net income attributable to Global Payments	$ 220,971	$ 95,044	$ 401,876	$ 327,842
Earnings per share attributable to Global Payments:
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.54	$ 1.34	$ 2.00
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.74	$ 0.54	$ 1.34	$ 2.00