Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 232,982	$ 126,800	$ 187,774
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	865,472	714,345	498,134
Stock-based compensation	175,500	155,567	132,443
Amortization of intangible assets	177,008	122,862	27,446
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discounts	24,449	19,137	16,050
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	5,627	8,260	5,037
Impairment charges	0	7,698	0
Gain on asset sales	0	(32,816)	0
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	(2,351)	0
Loss on debt extinguishment	65,772	12,276	289
Other items	(11,243)	20,609	16,490
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(161,774)	(100,230)	(44,583)
Income taxes, net	(34,936)	29,020	(109,579)
Other assets	20,180	(72,831)	(70,371)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	74,488	61,565	109,125
Other liabilities	5,708	(50,558)	126,568
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,439,233	1,019,353	894,823
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(57,926)	(42,325)	(359,031)
Sales and maturities of investments	46,421	53,164	873,139
Business acquisitions, net of cash and restricted cash acquired	(3,963,280)	(1,766,606)	(245,503)
Purchases of real estate	(95,083)	(28,118)	(38,282)
Purchases of other property, plant and equipment	(1,378,725)	(1,113,365)	(868,120)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash transferred	47,767	851,582	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(5,400,826)	(2,045,668)	(637,797)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from employee equity awards	41,696	34,179	30,040
Payment of dividends and special distribution	(621,497)	(499,463)	(521,461)
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of issuance costs	2,481,421	0	829,496
Proceeds from senior notes	3,628,701	0	1,100,000
Proceeds from loans payable	2,056,876	1,168,304	1,197,108
Repayment of senior notes	(500,000)	0	0
Repayment of capital lease and other financing obligations	(93,470)	(114,385)	(28,663)
Repayment of mortgage and loans payable	(2,277,798)	(1,462,888)	(715,270)
Debt extinguishment costs	(26,122)	(11,380)	0
Debt issuance costs	(81,047)	(11,381)	(18,098)
Other financing activities	(900)	(51)	0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	4,607,860	(897,065)	1,873,152
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	31,187	(21,800)	(39,784)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	677,454	(1,945,180)	2,090,394
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	773,247	2,718,427	628,033
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	1,450,701	773,247	2,718,427
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for taxes	72,641	39,320	132,302
Cash paid for interest	444,793	350,083	237,410
Cash and cash equivalents	1,412,517	748,476	2,228,838
Current portion of restricted cash included in other current assets	26,919	15,065	479,417
Non-current portion of restricted cash included in other assets	$ 11,265	$ 9,706	$ 10,172