Cost in Excess of Net Assets of Companies Acquired and Intangible Assets, net - Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	$ 1,473,333	[1]	$ 1,336,351	[1]
Acquisitions	233,361		145,522
Other (primarily foreign currency translation)	5,009		(8,540)
Goodwill, Ending balance	1,711,703	[1]	1,473,333	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	1,018,780
Global components [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	763,952	[1]	670,871	[1]
Acquisitions	198,392		94,837
Other (primarily foreign currency translation)	(4,428)		(1,756)
Goodwill, Ending balance	957,916	[1]	763,952	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	716,925
Global ECS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	709,381	[1]	665,480	[1]
Acquisitions	34,969		50,685
Other (primarily foreign currency translation)	9,437		(6,784)
Goodwill, Ending balance	753,787	[1]	709,381	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	$ 301,855

[1] The total carrying value of cost in excess of net assets of companies acquired for all periods in the table above is reflected net of $1,018,780 of accumulated impairment charges, of which $716,925 was recorded in the global components business segment and $301,855 was recorded in the global ECS business segment.