Stockholders' Equity - Changes in Stockholders' Equity (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Balances, January 1, 2018	$ 11,611,124
Balances, January 1, 2018	7,577,061
Balances, January 1, 2018	4,034,063
Net income (loss) attributable to MGM Resorts International	223,444	$ 206,412
Net income	264,184
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(24,152)	(12,933)
Other comprehensive loss - cash flow hedges	13,856	$ (634)
Stock-based compensation	16,117
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock-based compensation awards	(8,295)
Issuance of performance-based share units	3,716
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners	(9,791)
Dividend paid to common shareholders	(67,999)
Repurchases of common stock	(362,400)
Adjustment of redeemable non-controlling interest to redemption value	(4,598)
Other	(1,614)
Balances, March 31, 2018	4,029,581
Balances, March 31, 2018	7,370,790
Balances, March 31, 2018	11,400,371
MGM Growth Properties LLC [Member] | Class A shares [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners	(29,777)
MGM Resorts Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Balances, January 1, 2018	7,577,061
Net income (loss) attributable to MGM Resorts International	223,444
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(13,368)
Other comprehensive loss - cash flow hedges	9,498
Stock-based compensation	14,742
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock-based compensation awards	(8,295)
Issuance of performance-based share units	3,609
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners	0
Dividend paid to common shareholders	(67,999)
Repurchases of common stock	(362,400)
Adjustment of redeemable non-controlling interest to redemption value	(4,598)
Other	(904)
Balances, March 31, 2018	7,370,790
MGM Resorts Stockholders' Equity [Member] | MGM Growth Properties LLC [Member] | Class A shares [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners	0
Non-controlling Interests [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Balances, January 1, 2018	4,034,063
Net income	40,740
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(10,784)
Other comprehensive loss - cash flow hedges	4,358
Stock-based compensation	1,375
Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock-based compensation awards	0
Issuance of performance-based share units	107
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners	(9,791)
Dividend paid to common shareholders	0
Repurchases of common stock	0
Adjustment of redeemable non-controlling interest to redemption value	0
Other	(710)
Balances, March 31, 2018	4,029,581
Non-controlling Interests [Member] | MGM Growth Properties LLC [Member] | Class A shares [Member]
Class Of Stock [Line Items]
Distributions to noncontrolling interest owners	$ (29,777)