Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 365,359	$ 232,982	$ 126,800
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	1,024,073	865,472	714,345
Stock-based compensation	180,716	175,500	155,567
Amortization of intangible assets	203,416	177,008	122,862
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discounts and premiums	13,618	24,449	19,137
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	7,236	5,627	8,260
Impairment charges	0	0	7,698
Gain on asset sales	(6,013)	0	(32,816)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	0	(2,351)
Loss on debt extinguishment	51,377	65,772	12,276
Other items	19,660	(11,243)	20,609
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(52,931)	(161,774)	(100,230)
Income taxes, net	(10,670)	(34,936)	29,020
Other assets	(47,635)	20,180	(72,831)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	35,495	74,488	61,565
Other liabilities	31,725	5,708	(50,558)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,815,426	1,439,233	1,019,353
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(65,180)	(57,926)	(42,325)
Sales and maturities of investments	85,777	46,421	53,164
Business acquisitions, net of cash and restricted cash acquired	(829,687)	(3,963,280)	(1,766,606)
Purchases of real estate	(182,418)	(95,083)	(28,118)
Purchases of other property, plant and equipment	(2,096,174)	(1,378,725)	(1,113,365)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash transferred	12,154	47,767	851,582
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,075,528)	(5,400,826)	(2,045,668)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from employee equity awards	50,136	41,696	34,179
Payment of dividends and special distribution	(738,600)	(621,497)	(499,463)
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of issuance costs	388,172	2,481,421	0
Proceeds from senior notes	929,850	3,628,701	0
Proceeds from loans payable	424,650	2,056,876	1,168,304
Repayment of senior notes	0	(500,000)	0
Repayment of capital lease and other financing obligations	(103,774)	(93,470)	(114,385)
Repayment of mortgage and loans payable	(447,473)	(2,277,798)	(1,462,888)
Debt extinguishment costs	(20,556)	(26,122)	(11,380)
Debt issuance costs	(12,218)	(81,047)	(11,381)
Other financing activities	725	(900)	(51)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	470,912	4,607,860	(897,065)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(33,907)	31,187	(21,800)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(823,097)	677,454	(1,945,180)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,450,701	773,247	2,718,427
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	627,604	1,450,701	773,247
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for taxes	93,375	72,641	39,320
Cash paid for interest	496,795	444,793	350,083
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows	$ 1,450,701	$ 773,247	$ 2,718,427