Segment and Geographic Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Oct. 01, 2011	Jul. 02, 2011	Apr. 02, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Oct. 02, 2010	Jul. 03, 2010	Apr. 03, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring, integration, and other charges									$ 37,811		$ 33,494		$ 105,514
Settlement of legal matter									5,875		0		0
Assets	9,829,079				9,600,538				9,829,079		9,600,538
Sales:
Sales	5,440,473	5,186,857	5,539,931	5,223,003	5,238,162	4,657,841	4,613,307	4,235,366	21,390,264		18,744,676		14,684,101
Operating income (loss):
Operating income									908,843		750,775		272,787
Global Components [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	5,974,174				5,862,386				5,974,174		5,862,386
Sales:
Sales									14,853,823		13,168,381		9,751,305
Operating income (loss):
Operating income									823,774		715,333		318,866
Global ECS [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	3,206,788				2,836,006				3,206,788		2,836,006
Sales:
Sales									6,536,441		5,576,295		4,932,796
Operating income (loss):
Operating income									262,893		191,489		167,748
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	648,117				902,146				648,117		902,146
Operating income (loss):
Operating income									$ (177,824)	[1]	$ (156,047)	[1]	$ (213,827)

[1] Includes restructuring, integration, and other charges of $37,811, $33,494, and $105,514 in 2011, 2010, and 2009, respectively. Also included in 2011 is a charge of $5,875 related to the settlement of a legal matter.