Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	[1]	$ 2,392,220		$ 2,368,832
Acquisitions		6,149		57,154
Impairment of assets held for sale		(7,922)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		79,600		(33,766)
Goodwill, Ending balance		2,470,047	[2]	2,392,220	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss		1,026,702		1,018,780
Global Components [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	[1]	1,239,741		1,230,832
Acquisitions		6,149		20,724
Impairment of assets held for sale		0
Foreign currency translation adjustment		18,979		(11,815)
Goodwill, Ending balance		1,264,869	[2]	1,239,741	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss		716,925
Global ECS [Member]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, Beginning balance	[1]	1,152,479		1,138,000
Acquisitions		0		36,430
Impairment of assets held for sale		(7,922)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		60,621		(21,951)
Goodwill, Ending balance		1,205,178	[2]	1,152,479	[1]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss		$ 309,777		$ 301,855

[1] The total carrying value of goodwill of companies acquired as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 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.

[2] The total carrying value of goodwill of companies acquired as of December 31, 2017 in the table above is reflected net of $1,026,702 of accumulated impairment charges, of which $716,925 was recorded in the global components business segment and $309,777 was recorded in the global ECS business segment.