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, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	$ 1,711,703	[1]	$ 1,473,333	[1]
Acquisitions	325,660		233,361
Foreign currency translation adjustment	1,930		5,009
Goodwill, Ending balance	2,039,293	[1]	1,711,703	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	1,018,780
Global components [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	957,916	[1]	763,952	[1]
Acquisitions	50,218		198,392
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(7,274)		(4,428)
Goodwill, Ending balance	1,000,860	[1]	957,916	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	716,925
Global ECS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	753,787	[1]	709,381	[1]
Acquisitions	275,442		34,969
Foreign currency translation adjustment	9,204		9,437
Goodwill, Ending balance	1,038,433	[1]	753,787	[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.