Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 370,074	$ 507,245	$ 365,359
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	1,224,322	1,088,559	1,024,073
Stock-based compensation	294,952	236,539	180,716
Amortization of intangible assets	199,047	196,278	203,416
Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discounts and premiums	15,739	13,042	13,618
Provision for credit loss allowance	5,069	8,459	7,236
Impairment charges	7,306	15,790	0
Gain on asset sales	(1,301)	(44,310)	(6,013)
Loss on debt extinguishment	145,804	52,825	51,377
Other items	16,643	11,620	19,660
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	25,412	(26,909)	(52,931)
Income taxes, net	(22,641)	32,495	(10,670)
Other assets	(129,817)	(100,144)	(47,635)
Operating lease right-of-use assets	153,650	149,031
Operating lease liabilities	(142,863)	(152,091)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	25,801	(27,928)	35,495
Other liabilities	122,629	32,227	31,725
Net cash provided by operating activities	2,309,826	1,992,728	1,815,426
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of investments	(127,763)	(60,909)	(65,180)
Sales and maturities of investments	29,352	40,386	85,777
Business acquisitions, net of cash and restricted cash acquired	(1,180,272)	(34,143)	(829,687)
Purchases of real estate	(200,182)	(169,153)	(182,418)
Purchases of other property, plant and equipment	(2,282,504)	(2,079,521)	(2,096,174)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of cash transferred	334,397	358,773	12,154
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,426,972)	(1,944,567)	(3,075,528)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from employee equity awards	62,118	52,018	50,136
Payment of dividends and special distribution	(947,933)	(836,164)	(738,600)
Proceeds from public offering of common stock, net of issuance costs	1,981,375	1,660,976	388,172
Proceeds from senior notes, net of debt discounts	4,431,627	2,797,906	929,850
Proceeds from mortgage and loans payable	750,790	0	424,650
Repayment of senior notes	(4,363,761)	(2,206,289)	0
Repayment of finance lease liabilities	(115,288)	(126,486)
Repayment of finance lease liabilities			(103,774)
Repayment of mortgage and loans payable	(829,466)	(73,227)	(447,473)
Debt extinguishment costs	(111,700)	(43,311)	(20,556)
Debt issuance costs	(42,236)	(23,341)	(12,218)
Other financing activities	0	0	725
Net cash provided by financing activities	815,526	1,202,082	470,912
Effect of foreign currency exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	40,702	8,766	(33,907)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(260,918)	1,259,009	(823,097)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	1,886,613	627,604	1,450,701
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	1,625,695	1,886,613	627,604
Supplemental cash flow information
Cash paid for taxes	143,934	136,583	93,375
Cash paid for interest	498,408	553,815	496,795
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows	$ 1,886,613	$ 1,886,613	$ 1,450,701