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, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	$ 2,039,293	[1]	$ 1,711,703	[1]
Acquisitions	111,051		325,660
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(81,135)		1,930
Goodwill, Ending balance	2,069,209	[1]	2,039,293	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	1,018,780
Global components [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	1,000,860	[1]	957,916	[1]
Acquisitions	63,077		50,218
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(12,154)		(7,274)
Goodwill, Ending balance	1,051,783	[1]	1,000,860	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss	716,925
Global ECS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	1,038,433	[1]	753,787	[1]
Acquisitions	47,974		275,442
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(68,981)		9,204
Goodwill, Ending balance	1,017,426	[1]	1,038,433	[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.