Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 2,789,059	$ 2,889,749	$ 2,625,592
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense	72,187	67,240	64,560
Amortization expense	230,045	198,237	148,384
Stock-based compensation expenses	192,378	200,041	180,684
In-process research and development impairment	26,630	136,000	0
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	(40,848)	(81,620)	(80,186)
Tax benefits from employee stock plans	37,231	82,086	88,368
Deferred income taxes	64,061	12,152	(42,013)
Other non-cash transactions	47,931	10,408	64,456
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net	(375,736)	(348,875)	(356,462)
Inventories	(200,793)	(161,190)	(75,266)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(13,959)	(70,466)	(65,667)
Accounts payable	428,944	(4,453)	203,641
Income taxes payable	110,771	(185,733)	166,334
Accrued liabilities	300,593	120,065	109,026
Deferred revenues	(29,484)	(29,728)	48,603
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,639,010	2,833,913	3,080,054
Investing activities:
Purchases of marketable securities	(5,127,790)	(5,502,687)	(2,614,046)
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities	8,649,752	3,033,893	1,440,509
Proceeds from maturities of marketable securities	788,395	683,927	435,510
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(588,608)	(91,000)	(1,247,816)
Capital expenditures and other	(131,904)	(61,884)	(230,057)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	3,589,845	(1,937,751)	(2,215,900)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from issuances of senior notes, net of issuance costs	4,660,702	0	0
Proceeds from issuances of convertible notes, net of issuance costs	0	2,462,500	0
Proceeds from sale of warrants	0	155,425	0
Purchases of convertible note hedges	0	362,622	0
Proceeds from credit facility	0	500,000	400,000
Repayments of credit facility	0	(500,000)	(400,000)
Proceeds from issuances of common stock	211,737	221,223	222,728
Repurchases of common stock	(2,383,132)	(4,022,593)	(998,495)
Extinguishment of long-term debt	(649,987)	0	(305,455)
Repayments of long-term obligations	(1,562)	(5,786)	(5,648)
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation	40,848	81,620	80,186
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interest	(115,037)	131,523	(44,754)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,763,569	(1,338,710)	(1,051,438)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(16,526)	77,469	940
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	8,975,898	(365,079)	(186,344)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	907,879	1,272,958	1,459,302
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	9,883,777	907,879	1,272,958
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	62,180	15,748	8,990
Income taxes paid	$ 621,025	$ 1,129,577	$ 746,224