Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue (note 15)	$ 4,497.2	$ 4,276.5	$ 13,633.1	$ 10,006.2
Operating costs and expenses:
Operating (other than depreciation and amortization) (including share-based compensation) (note 11)	1,659.7	1,646.6	5,077.7	3,711.5
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) (including share-based compensation) (note 11)	800.0	739.5	2,355.0	1,823.9
Depreciation and amortization	1,313.5	1,381.3	4,084.0	2,921.7
Release of litigation provision	0	(146.0)	0	(146.0)
Impairment, restructuring and other operating items, net (note 12)	20.3	133.9	161.5	200.6
Operating costs and expenses, Total	3,793.5	3,755.3	11,678.2	8,511.7
Operating income	703.7	521.2	1,954.9	1,494.5
Non-operating income (expense):
Interest expense	(617.3)	(630.0)	(1,912.6)	(1,643.9)
Interest and dividend income	13.2	62.0	29.2	110.7
Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on derivative instruments, net (note 5)	527.9	(875.4)	(177.3)	(683.3)
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net	(375.8)	258.0	(433.0)	213.0
Realized and unrealized gains due to changes in fair values of certain investments, net (notes 4 and 6)	92.2	80.8	189.4	345.4
Losses on debt modification and extinguishment, net (note 8)	(9.6)	(0.7)	(83.5)	(170.7)
Other expense, net	(13.0)	(3.5)	(17.4)	(6.7)
Non-operating income (expense), Total	(382.4)	(1,108.8)	(2,405.2)	(1,835.5)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	321.3	(587.6)	(450.3)	(341.0)
Income tax expense (note 9)	(145.6)	(223.2)	(28.0)	(436.8)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	175.7	(810.8)	(478.3)	(777.8)
Discontinued operation (note 3):
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operation, net of taxes	0	(10.8)	0.8	(13.2)
Gain on disposal of discontinued operation, net of taxes	0	0	332.7	0
Income (loss) on discontinued operation, Total	0	(10.8)	333.5	(13.2)
Net earnings (loss)	175.7	(821.6)	(144.8)	(791.0)
Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18.6)	(8.5)	(26.8)	(51.7)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders	$ 157.1	$ (830.1)	$ (171.6)	$ (842.7)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders per share (note 13):
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ (1.03)	$ (0.64)	$ (1.31)
Discontinued operation (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ 0.43	$ (0.02)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.20	$ (1.04)	$ (0.21)	$ (1.33)