Income Taxes (Tables)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]  
Schedule of components of income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes
The components of income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes during the three years ended December 31, 2019 consisted of the following:
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in thousands)
United States
$
1,263,379

 
$
812,086

 
$
330,340

Foreign
131,540

 
(211,845
)
 
(346,029
)
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes
$
1,394,919

 
$
600,241

 
$
(15,689
)
Schedule of components of provision for (benefit from) income taxes
The components of the provision for (benefit from) income taxes during the three years ended December 31, 2019 consisted of the following:
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in thousands)
Current taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
$
—

 
$
772

 
$
11,559

Foreign
37,194

 
15,600

 
3,576

State
13,528

 
9,018

 
5,025

Total current taxes
50,722

 
25,390

 
20,160

Deferred taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
184,312

 
(1,105,053
)
 
(113,805
)
Foreign
(24,797
)
 
(364,919
)
 
(3,222
)
State
7,872

 
(42,280
)
 
(10,457
)
Total deferred taxes
167,387

 
(1,512,252
)
 
(127,484
)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
$
218,109

 
$
(1,486,862
)
 
$
(107,324
)
Reconciliation of the provision for (benefit from) income taxes
A reconciliation of the provision for (benefit from) income taxes as computed by applying the U.S. federal statutory rate of 21% for the years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 and 35% for the year ended December 31, 2017 to the provision for (benefit from) income taxes is as follows:
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in thousands)
Income (loss) before provision for (benefit from) income taxes
$
1,394,919

 
$
600,241

 
$
(15,689
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Expected provision for (benefit from) income taxes
292,933

 
126,051

 
(5,491
)
State taxes, net of federal benefit
8,478

 
8,680

 
4,742

Foreign income tax rate differential
6,178

 
23,427

 
77,801

Tax credits
(59,459
)
 
(52,629
)
 
(58,204
)
Benefit from income taxes attributable to valuation allowances
(2,672
)
 
(1,563,169
)
 
(575,801
)
Permanent items
4,822

 
1,421

 
15,324

Tax rate change
—

 
—

 
575,192

Stock compensation (benefit) shortfalls and cancellations
(56,324
)
 
(49,044
)
 
(21,453
)
Officer’s compensation
10,666

 
8,310

 
6,501

Deconsolidation of VIE
—

 
(9,390
)
 
(126,183
)
Uncertain tax positions
14,070

 
15,431

 
—

Other
(583
)
 
4,050

 
248

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
$
218,109

 
$
(1,486,862
)
 
$
(107,324
)
Schedule of deferred tax assets and liabilities The components of the deferred taxes were as follows:
 
As of December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Net operating loss
$
512,256

 
$
882,014

Tax credit carryforwards
549,543

 
487,635

Intangible assets
275,290

 
241,775

Deferred revenues
18,833

 
19,311

Stock-based compensation
85,199

 
93,915

Accrued expenses
44,367

 
17,795

Finance lease liabilities
119,160

 
130,849

Operating lease assets
13,114

 
—

  Other
8,596

 
6,831

Gross deferred tax assets
1,626,358

 
1,880,125

Valuation allowance
(205,192
)
 
(168,491
)
Total deferred tax assets
1,421,166

 
1,711,634

Deferred tax liabilities:
 
 
 
Property and equipment
(101,235
)
 
(128,407
)
Acquired intangibles
(87,160
)
 
—

Deferred revenue
—

 
(73,357
)
Unrealized gain
(28,838
)
 
(10,198
)
Operating lease liabilities
(13,118
)
 
—

Net deferred tax assets
$
1,190,815

 
$
1,499,672
Summary of income tax contingencies
Unrecognized tax benefits during the three years ended December 31, 2019 were as follows:
 
2019
 
2018
 
2017
 
(in thousands)
Balance at beginning of the period
$
19,549

 
$
3,814

 
$
—

Increases related to current period tax positions
14,407

 
9,704

 
3,814

Increases related to prior period tax positions
598

 
6,031

 
—

Decreases related to prior period tax positions
(156
)
 
—

 
—

Settlement with Tax Authorities
(478
)
 
—

 
—

Balance at end of period
$
33,920

 
$
19,549

 
$
3,814