Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 954.9	$ 2,701.9
Trade receivables, net	1,345.3	1,588.7
Derivative instruments (note 5)	458.1	252.1
Deferred income taxes	369.8	226.1
Prepaid expenses	232.9	238.2
Current assets of discontinued operation (note 3)	0	238.7
Other current assets	265.4	236.9
Total current assets	3,626.4	5,482.6
Investments (including $4,364.3 million and $3,481.8 million, respectively, measured at fair value) (note 4)	4,529.7	3,491.2
Property and equipment, net (note 7)	22,119.6	23,974.9
Goodwill (note 7)	22,395.9	23,748.8
Intangible assets subject to amortization, net (note 7)	4,815.4	5,795.4
Long-term assets of discontinued operation (note 3)	0	513.6
Other assets, net (note 5)	4,753.0	4,707.8
Total assets	62,240.0	67,714.3
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	1,018.0	1,072.9
Deferred revenue and advance payments from subscribers and others	1,194.1	1,406.2
Current portion of debt and capital lease obligations (note 8)	1,669.0	1,023.4
Derivative instruments (note 5)	1,196.2	751.2
Accrued interest	581.7	598.7
Accrued programming and copyright	371.1	359.1
Current liabilities of discontinued operation (note 3)	0	127.5
Other accrued and current liabilities (note 12)	2,419.4	2,344.0
Total current liabilities	8,449.5	7,683.0
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations (note 8)	39,463.8	43,680.9
Long-term liabilities of discontinued operation (note 3)	0	19.8
Other long-term liabilities (notes 5 and 12)	4,019.5	4,789.1
Total liabilities	51,932.8	56,172.8
Commitments and contingencies (notes 3, 5, 8, 9 and 14)
Liberty Global shareholders:
Additional paid-in capital	12,140.8	12,809.4
Accumulated deficit	(3,484.2)	(3,312.6)
Accumulated other comprehensive earnings, net of taxes	2,279.0	2,528.8
Treasury shares, at cost	(4.5)	(7.7)
Total Liberty Global shareholders	10,939.0	12,025.8
Noncontrolling interests (note 10)	(631.8)	(484.3)
Total equity	10,307.2	11,541.5
Total liabilities and equity	62,240.0	67,714.3
Class A ordinary shares, $0.01 nominal value. Issued and outstanding 215,137,527 and 222,081,117 shares, respectively
Liberty Global shareholders:
Common stock	2.2	2.2
Class B ordinary shares, $0.01 nominal value. Issued and outstanding 10,139,184 and 10,147,184 shares, respectively
Liberty Global shareholders:
Common stock	0.1	0.1
Class C ordinary shares, $0.01 nominal value. Issued and outstanding 555,026,283 and 556,221,669 shares, respectively
Liberty Global shareholders:
Common stock	$ 5.6	$ 5.6