Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 13,323	$ 11,862	$ 22,922
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and other operating gains	12,953	10,676	9,688
Share-based compensation	1,021	826	751
Noncash interest expense (income), net	417	364	272
Net (gain) loss on investment activity and other	(20)	576	(194)
Deferred income taxes	563	290	(10,646)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Current and noncurrent receivables, net	(57)	(802)	(869)
Film and television costs, net	(929)	(395)	(197)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses related to trade creditors	(347)	(394)	173
Other operating assets and liabilities	(1,227)	1,294	(639)
Net cash provided by operating activities	25,697	24,297	21,261
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(9,953)	(9,774)	(9,550)
Cash paid for intangible assets	(2,475)	(1,935)	(1,605)
Acquisitions and construction of real estate properties	(54)	(143)	(418)
Construction of Universal Beijing Resort	(1,116)	(460)	(71)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(370)	(38,219)	(532)
Proceeds from sales of businesses and investments	886	141	150
Purchases of investments	(1,899)	(1,257)	(2,292)
Other	140	793	785
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(14,841)	(50,854)	(13,533)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from (repayments of) short-term borrowings, net	(1,288)	379	(1,905)
Proceeds from borrowings	5,479	44,781	11,466
Proceeds from collateralized obligation	5,175	0	0
Repurchases and repayments of debt	(14,354)	(8,798)	(6,364)
Repurchases of common stock under repurchase program and employee plans	(504)	(5,320)	(5,435)
Dividends paid	(3,735)	(3,352)	(2,883)
Purchase of Universal Studios Japan noncontrolling interests	0	0	(2,299)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests and dividends for redeemable subsidiary preferred stock	(311)	(277)	(252)
Other	357	(273)	100
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(9,181)	27,140	(7,572)
Impact of foreign currency on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	5	(245)	0
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	1,680	338	156
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year	3,909	3,571	3,415
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year	5,589	3,909	3,571
NBCUniversal Media LLC [Member]
Operating Activities
Net income	5,964	5,305	5,214
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and other operating gains	2,129	1,967	1,704
Net (gain) loss on investment activity and other	120	689	428
Deferred income taxes	(42)	(39)	2
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions and divestitures:
Current and noncurrent receivables, net	43	(452)	(594)
Film and television costs, net	(911)	35	(199)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses related to trade creditors	(27)	57	(43)
Other operating assets and liabilities	(58)	341	564
Net cash provided by operating activities	7,218	7,903	7,076
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(2,072)	(1,730)	(1,502)
Cash paid for intangible assets	(285)	(448)	(295)
Note receivable from Comcast	(2,900)	(2,054)	0
Construction of Universal Beijing Resort	(1,116)	(460)	(71)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(211)	(80)	(140)
Proceeds from sales of businesses and investments	464	70	45
Purchases of investments	(1,024)	(587)	(490)
Other	16	(51)	586
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(7,128)	(5,340)	(1,867)
Financing Activities
Proceeds from borrowings	791	692	3,948
Proceeds from collateralized obligation	5,175	0	0
Repurchases and repayments of debt	(3,778)	(438)	(3,498)
Proceeds from (repayments of) borrowings from Comcast, net	(70)	(1,777)	(872)
Distributions to member	(2,113)	(1,627)	(1,968)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(242)	(205)	(209)
Purchase of Universal Studios Japan noncontrolling interests	0	0	(2,299)
Other	127	(121)	79
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(110)	(3,476)	(4,819)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(20)	(913)	390
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year	1,464	2,377	1,987
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year	$ 1,444	$ 1,464	$ 2,377