A record-breaking 30,000 of those people came from outside the U.S., with about 80 different countries represented. The numbers are preliminary; CEA conducts an independent audit and final figures will be released in the spring.

"The 2011 International CES was a phenomenal worldwide event that spanned global industries including technology, automotive and entertainment markets," Gary Shapiro, president and chief executives of CEA, said in a statement. "This global technology gathering featured more innovation, more news, more social media buzz and more international attendance than any other show in CES history."

The show also attracted 2,700 technology companies, and its keynote presentations featured appearances by 22 top CEOs, CEA said.