Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 31,169	$ (36,151)	$ 280,717	$ (72,253)
Changes in other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized holding (losses) gains on marketable securities, net of tax of $1.0 million, zero, zero and zero, respectively	(17,281)	(29)	(13,747)	200
Unrealized (losses) gains on foreign currency forward contracts, net of tax of $1.1 million, $0.2 million, $2.0 million and $(0.6) million, respectively	(15,245)	4,999	(21,926)	(213)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(5,252)	(3,461)	(7,253)	(5,201)
Total changes in other comprehensive (loss) income	(37,778)	1,509	(42,926)	(5,214)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(6,609)	(34,642)	237,791	(77,467)
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	(13,173)	(28,374)	(14,965)	(33,903)
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Vertex	$ (19,782)	$ (63,016)	$ 222,826	$ (111,370)