Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 507,245	$ 365,359	$ 232,982
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	1,088,559	1,024,073	865,472
Stock-based compensation	236,539	180,716	175,500
Amortization of intangible assets	196,278	203,416	177,008
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discounts and premiums	13,042	13,618	24,449
Provision for allowance for doubtful accounts	8,459	7,236	5,627
Impairment charges	15,790	0	0
Gain on asset sales	(44,310)	(6,013)	0
Loss on debt extinguishment	52,825	51,377	65,772
Other items	11,620	19,660	(11,243)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(26,909)	(52,931)	(161,774)
Income taxes, net	32,495	(10,670)	(34,936)
Other assets	(100,144)	(47,635)	20,180
Operating lease right-of-use assets	149,031
Operating lease liabilities	(152,091)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(27,928)	35,495	74,488
Other liabilities	32,227	31,725	5,708
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,992,728	1,815,426	1,439,233
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(60,909)	(65,180)	(57,926)
Sales and maturities of investments	40,386	85,777	46,421
Business acquisitions, net of cash and restricted cash acquired	(34,143)	(829,687)	(3,963,280)
Purchases of real estate	(169,153)	(182,418)	(95,083)
Purchases of other property, plant and equipment	(2,079,521)	(2,096,174)	(1,378,725)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash transferred	358,773	12,154	47,767
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,944,567)	(3,075,528)	(5,400,826)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from employee equity awards	52,018	50,136	41,696
Payment of dividends and special distribution	(836,164)	(738,600)	(621,497)
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of issuance costs	1,660,976	388,172	2,481,421
Proceeds from senior notes, net of debt discounts	2,797,906	929,850	3,628,701
Proceeds from loans payable	0	424,650	2,056,876
Repayment of senior notes	(2,206,289)	0	(500,000)
Repayment of finance lease liabilities	(126,486)
Repayment of finance lease liabilities		(103,774)	(93,470)
Repayment of mortgage and loans payable	(73,227)	(447,473)	(2,277,798)
Debt extinguishment costs	(43,311)	(20,556)	(26,122)
Debt issuance costs	(23,341)	(12,218)	(81,047)
Other financing activities	0	725	(900)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,202,082	470,912	4,607,860
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	8,766	(33,907)	31,187
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	1,259,009	(823,097)	677,454
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	627,604	1,450,701	773,247
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	1,886,613	627,604	1,450,701
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for taxes	136,583	93,375	72,641
Cash paid for interest	553,815	496,795	444,793
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows	$ 627,604	$ 1,450,701	$ 1,450,701