Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 14,474.2	$ 9,930.8	$ 9,118.3
Operating costs and expenses:
Operating (other than depreciation and amortization) (including share-based compensation) (note 12)	5,417.7	3,349.7	3,098.9
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) (including share-based compensation) (note 12)	2,616.5	1,860.3	1,708.2
Depreciation and amortization	4,276.4	2,661.5	2,424.3
Release of litigation provision (note 16)	(146.0)	0	0
Impairment, restructuring and other operating items, net (notes 3, 8 and 13)	297.5	76.2	64.0
Costs and expenses, Total	12,462.1	7,947.7	7,295.4
Operating income (loss)	2,012.1	1,983.1	1,822.9
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest expense	(2,286.9)	(1,673.6)	(1,453.7)
Interest and dividend income	113.1	42.1	72.9
Realized and unrealized losses on derivative instruments, net (note 6)	(1,020.4)	(1,070.3)	(59.9)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net	349.3	438.4	(566.6)
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) due to changes in fair values of certain investments and debt, net (notes 5, 7 and 9)	524.1	(10.2)	(151.7)
Losses on debt modification, extinguishment and conversion, net (note 9)	(212.2)	(213.8)	(218.4)
Other expense, net	(5.6)	(4.6)	(5.9)
Nonoperating income (expense), Total	(2,538.6)	(2,492.0)	(2,383.3)
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(526.5)	(508.9)	(560.4)
Income tax expense (note 10)	(355.5)	(75.0)	(241.1)
Loss from continuing operations	(882.0)	(583.9)	(801.5)
Discontinued operations (note 4):
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes	(23.7)	47.1	130.5
Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	924.1	0
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(23.7)	971.2	130.5
Net earnings (loss)	(905.7)	387.3	(671.0)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(58.2)	(64.5)	(101.7)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders	$ (963.9)	$ 322.8	$ (772.7)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders per share (note 2):
Continuing operations (in dollars per shares)	$ (2.79)	$ (2.33)	$ (3.19)
Discontinued operations (in dollars per shares)	$ (0.08)	$ 3.54	$ 0.26
Basic and diluted loss attributable to Liberty Global shareholders per share (note 2)	$ (2.87)	$ 1.21	$ (2.93)
Weighted average ordinary shares outstanding - basic and diluted (in shares)	336,174,270	267,320,720	263,742,301