CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total		Common Stock	Class B Common Stock	Additional paid-in capital	Treasury stock	Retained earnings (deficit)	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 2,749,726		$ 17	$ 1	$ 6,034,515	$ (1,739,198)	$ (1,616,033)	$ 3,379	$ 67,045
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009			171,406,000	12,799,999		39,441,384
Net income (excludes income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest)	422,595						421,500		1,095
Components of comprehensive income:
Currency translation adjustments and other	(11,996)							(12,511)	515
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale	329	[1]						329
Proceeds from exercise of equity instruments (in shares)			2,802,088
Proceeds from exercise of equity instruments	48,815				48,815
Tax benefits on equity awards	118,103				118,103
Treasury stock activity related to vesting of equity instruments (Shares)						285,240
Treasury stock activity related to vesting of equity instruments	(12,739)					(12,739)
Common stock repurchases (in shares)						10,308,101
Common stock repurchases	(489,254)	[2],[3]				(489,254)
Cash dividends paid	(79,076)				(79,076)
Adjustment to the fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(41,382)				(41,382)
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interests	(23,657)				(19,161)				(4,496)
Stock-based compensation expense	56,427				56,427
Other	(1,188)				(1,188)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	2,736,703		17	1	6,117,053	(2,241,191)	(1,194,533)	(8,803)	64,159
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010			174,208,088	12,799,999		50,034,725
Net income (excludes income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest)	474,859						472,294		2,565
Components of comprehensive income:
Currency translation adjustments and other	(1,161)							(8,468)	7,307
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale	(79)	[1]						(79)
Proceeds from exercise of equity instruments (in shares)			2,169,516
Proceeds from exercise of equity instruments	29,902		1		29,901
Tax benefits on equity awards	7,799				7,799
Treasury stock activity related to vesting of equity instruments (Shares)						247,948
Treasury stock activity related to vesting of equity instruments	(11,155)					(11,155)
Common stock repurchases (in shares)						5,314,000
Common stock repurchases	(282,873)	[3],[4]				(282,873)
Cash dividends paid	(76,550)				(76,550)
Spin-off of TripAdvisor, Inc. to stockholders	(647,528)				(647,528)
Adjustment to the fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	436				436
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interests	(1,841)				(33,113)				31,272
Stock-based compensation expense	77,075				77,075
Other	(420)				(420)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	2,305,167		18	1	5,474,653	(2,535,219)	(722,239)	(17,350)	105,303
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			176,377,604	12,799,999		55,596,673
Net income (excludes income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest)	279,955						280,171		(216)
Components of comprehensive income:
Currency translation adjustments and other	17,564							16,274	1,290
Unrealized gain (loss) on securities available for sale	1,098	[1]						1,098
Proceeds from exercise of equity instruments (in shares)			12,877,312
Proceeds from exercise of equity instruments	237,995		1		237,994
Tax benefits on equity awards	31,367				31,367
Treasury stock activity related to vesting of equity instruments (Shares)						437,991
Treasury stock activity related to vesting of equity instruments	(20,195)					(20,195)
Common stock repurchases (in shares)						10,690,657
Common stock repurchases	(397,376)	[3]				(397,376)
Cash dividends paid	(130,423)				(130,423)
Adjustment to the fair value of redeemable noncontrolling interests	(772)				(772)
Changes in ownership of noncontrolling interests	4,829				2,077				2,752
Stock-based compensation expense	57,545				57,545
Other	2,634				2,634
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 2,389,388		$ 19	$ 1	$ 5,675,075	$ (2,952,790)	$ (442,068)	$ 22	$ 109,129
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			189,254,916	12,799,999		66,725,321

[1] Net gains (losses) recognized and reclassified during 2012, 2011 and 2010 were immaterial.

[2] On a reverse split adjusted basis the number of shares repurchased was 10.3 million for $47.42 per share.

[3] Amount excludes transaction costs.

[4] On a reverse split adjusted basis the number of shares repurchased was 5.3 million for $53.20 per share.