1.0.0.3 false Statement Of Cash Flows Indirect (USD $) In Thousands false 1 $ false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 false 2 $ false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 false 3 $ false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 5 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 6 4 us-gaap_ProfitLoss us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 true true 1462624000 1462624 false false 2 true true -253915000 -253915 false false 3 true true 1085886000 1085886 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 7 4 us-gaap_AdjustmentsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 8 5 us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 141377000 141377 false false 2 false true 112006000 112006 false false 3 false true 97642000 97642 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 9 5 us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfInvestments us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -85903000 -85903 false false 3 false true -390968000 -390968 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 10 5 us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 88430000 88430 false false 2 false true 60970000 60970 false false 3 false true 58213000 58213 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 11 5 ma_StockUnitsSettledInCashForTaxes ma false debit duration monetary Stock units settled during the period, in cash, to satisfy tax withholding requirements. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -28458000 -28458 false false 2 false true -67111000 -67111 false false 3 false true -11334000 -11334 false false Stock units settled during the period, in cash, to satisfy tax withholding requirements. No authoritative reference available. false 12 5 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationOperatingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -39025000 -39025 false false 2 false true -47803000 -47803 false false 3 false true -15430000 -15430 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 13 5 us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 16430000 16430 false false 2 false true 12515000 12515 false false 3 false true 8719000 8719 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 14 5 ma_AccretionOfInterestOnLitigationSettlements ma false debit duration monetary Interest cost associated with litigation settlements due to recognition of initial liability at net present value. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 86342000 86342 false false 2 false true 77202000 77202 false false 3 false true 38046000 38046 false false Interest cost associated with litigation settlements due to recognition of initial liability at net present value. No authoritative reference available. false 15 5 us-gaap_DeferredIncomeTaxExpenseBenefit us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 336704000 336704 false false 2 false true -483952000 -483952 false false 3 false true -5492000 -5492 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 5 us-gaap_AdjustmentsNoncashItemsToReconcileNetIncomeLossToCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivitiesOther us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -12121000 -12121 false false 2 false true 14645000 14645 false false 3 false true 15121000 15121 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 17 5 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOperatingCapitalAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 18 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInTradingSecurities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true 2561000 2561 false false 3 false true 9700000 9700 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 19 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsReceivable us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 122445000 122445 false false 2 false true -115687000 -115687 false false 3 false true -60984000 -60984 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 20 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInIncomeTaxesReceivable us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 190000000 190000 false false 2 false true -198308000 -198308 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 21 6 ma_IncreaseDecreaseSettlementDueFromCustomers ma false credit duration monetary The change in settlement due from customers during the period. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 54473000 54473 false false 2 false true 183008000 183008 false false 3 false true -356305000 -356305 false false The change in settlement due from customers during the period. No authoritative reference available. false 22 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInPrepaidExpense us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -112655000 -112655 false false 2 false true -100853000 -100853 false false 3 false true -48257000 -48257 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 23 6 ma_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLitigation ma false debit duration monetary The net change during the period in Accrued litigation. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -938685000 -938685 false false 2 false true 1254660000 1254660 false false 3 false true -110525000 -110525 false false The net change during the period in Accrued litigation. No authoritative reference available. false 24 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccountsPayable us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 34231000 34231 false false 2 false true 8425000 8425 false false 3 false true -30650000 -30650 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 25 6 ma_IncreaseDecreaseSettlementDueToCustomers ma false debit duration monetary The change in settlement due to customers during the period. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -65628000 -65628 false false 2 false true -52852000 -52852 false false 3 false true 276144000 276144 false false The change in settlement due to customers during the period. No authoritative reference available. false 26 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInAccruedLiabilities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 82076000 82076 false false 2 false true 51345000 51345 false false 3 false true 183699000 183699 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 27 6 us-gaap_IncreaseDecreaseInOtherOperatingCapitalNet us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -40398000 -40398 false false 2 false true 42275000 42275 false false 3 false true 26636000 26636 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 28 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInOperatingActivities us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 1378162000 1378162 false false 2 false true 413228000 413228 false false 3 false true 769861000 769861 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 29 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 30 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquirePropertyPlantAndEquipment us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -56563000 -56563 false false 2 false true -75626000 -75626 false false 3 false true -81587000 -81587 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 31 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireSoftware us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -82797000 -82797 false false 2 false true -94647000 -94647 false false 3 false true -74835000 -74835 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 32 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAvailableForSaleSecurities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -332571000 -332571 false false 2 false true -519514000 -519514 false false 3 false true -3578357000 -3578357 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 33 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireHeldToMaturitySecurities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -300000000 -300000 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 34 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleAndMaturityOfAvailableForSaleSecurities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 134177000 134177 false false 2 false true 976743000 976743 false false 3 false true 4042011000 4042011 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 35 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesNetOfCashAcquired us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -2913000 -2913 false false 2 false true -81731000 -81731 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 36 4 us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -17709000 -17709 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 37 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForProceedsFromOtherInvestingActivities us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -5804000 -5804 false false 2 false true -3574000 -3574 false false 3 false true 7909000 7909 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 38 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInInvestingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -664180000 -664180 false false 2 false true 201651000 201651 false false 3 false true 315141000 315141 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 39 3 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false 1 false false 0 0 false false 2 false false 0 0 false false 3 false false 0 0 false false No definition available. false 40 4 us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 0 0 false false 2 false true -649468000 -649468 false false 3 false true -600532000 -600532 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 41 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromRepaymentsOfLongTermDebtAndCapitalSecurities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -149380000 -149380 false false 2 false true -80000000 -80000 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 42 4 us-gaap_PaymentsOfDividends us-gaap true credit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -78685000 -78685 false false 2 false true -79259000 -79259 false false 3 false true -74002000 -74002 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 43 4 us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 8720000 8720 false false 2 false true 9546000 9546 false false 3 false true 1597000 1597 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 4 us-gaap_ExcessTaxBenefitFromShareBasedCompensationFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 39025000 39025 false false 2 false true 47803000 47803 false false 3 false true 15430000 15430 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 45 4 ma_PaymentsToOrFromNoncontrollingInterestOwners ma false credit duration monetary The cash outflow or inflow for the return on capital for noncontrolled interest in the entity. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -4620000 -4620 false false 2 false true 0 0 false false 3 false true 0 0 false false The cash outflow or inflow for the return on capital for noncontrolled interest in the entity. No authoritative reference available. false 46 4 us-gaap_NetCashProvidedByUsedInFinancingActivities us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true -184940000 -184940 false false 2 false true -751378000 -751378 false false 3 false true -657507000 -657507 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 47 3 us-gaap_EffectOfExchangeRateOnCashAndCashEquivalents us-gaap true debit duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 21237000 21237 false false 2 false true -17636000 -17636 false false 3 false true 46720000 46720 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 48 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsPeriodIncreaseDecrease us-gaap true na duration monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false true 550279000 550279 false false 2 false true -154135000 -154135 false false 3 false true 474215000 474215 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. true 49 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false true false false 1 false true 1505160000 1505160 false false 2 false true 1659295000 1659295 false false 3 false true 1185080000 1185080 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 50 3 us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsAtCarryingValue us-gaap true debit instant monetary No definition available. false false false false false false false true false 1 true true 2055439000 2055439 false false 2 true true 1505160000 1505160 false false 3 true true 1659295000 1659295 false false No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false false 3 46 false Thousands UnKnown UnKnown false true