Condensed Consolidated Statement of Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Additional paid-in capital	Accumulated deficit	Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes	Treasury shares, at cost	Total Liberty Global shareholders	Non-controlling interests	Class A Ordinary Shares [Member] Ordinary shares	Class B Ordinary Shares [Member] Ordinary shares	Class C Ordinary Shares [Member] Ordinary shares
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 11,541.5	$ 12,809.4	$ (3,312.6)	$ 2,528.8	$ (7.7)	$ 12,025.8	$ (484.3)	$ 2.2	$ 0.1	$ 5.6
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	(320.5)		(328.7)			(328.7)	8.2
Other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes	539.2			539.0		539.0	0.2
Repurchase and cancellation of Liberty Global ordinary shares (note 10)	(885.5)	(885.4)				(885.5)				(0.1)
Call option contracts on Liberty Global shares	(126.5)	(126.4)				(126.5)		(0.1)
VTR NCI Acquisition (note 10)	0	185.3				185.4	(185.4)			0.1
Share-based compensation (note 11)	89.0	89.0				89.0
Adjustments due to changes in subsidiaries’ equity and other, net	(49.6)	(60.8)			2.5	(58.3)	8.7
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 10,787.6	$ 12,011.1	$ (3,641.3)	$ 3,067.8	$ (5.2)	$ 11,440.2	$ (652.6)	$ 2.1	$ 0.1	$ 5.6