CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net earnings (loss)	$ 13,610.1	$ (1,466.7)	$ 11,638.2
Earnings from discontinued operations	82.6	58.4	13,114.1
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	13,527.5	(1,525.1)	(1,475.9)
Adjustments to reconcile earnings (loss) from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:
Share-based compensation expense	308.1	348.0	305.8
Depreciation and amortization	2,353.7	2,227.2	3,546.3
Impairment, restructuring and other operating items, net	(19.0)	97.4	155.4
Amortization of deferred financing costs and non-cash interest	31.9	44.8	53.7
Realized and unrealized losses (gains) on derivative instruments, net	(622.9)	878.7	193.2
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains), net	(1,324.5)	1,409.3	95.6
Realized and unrealized gains due to changes in fair values of certain investments and debt, net	(735.0)	(45.2)	(72.0)
Losses on debt extinguishment, net	90.6	233.2	216.7
Share of results of affiliates, net	175.4	245.3	198.5
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	318.2	(262.9)	64.5
Gain on U.K. JV Transaction	(10,873.8)	0.0	0.0
Gain on Atlas Edge JV Transactions	(227.5)	0.0	0.0
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Receivables and other operating assets	707.1	947.3	877.0
Payables and accruals	(872.3)	(830.7)	(795.4)
Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	3,364.0	4,016.8	3,526.1
Net cash provided by operating activities of discontinued operations	185.0	169.0	1,059.3
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,549.0	4,185.8	4,585.4
Cash flows from investing activities:
Cash paid for investments	(7,261.8)	(8,240.5)	(256.1)
Cash received from sale of investments	6,170.8	6,031.9	0.0
Cash and restricted cash contributed to the VMO2 JV in connection with the U.K. JV Transaction	(3,424.0)	0.0	0.0
Capital expenditures, net	(1,408.0)	(1,292.8)	(1,168.2)
Cash released from (used to fund) the Vodafone Escrow Accounts, net	214.9	104.9	(295.2)
Cash received in connection with the Atlas Edge JV Transactions	144.5	0.0	0.0
Loans to the VodafoneZiggo JV	(123.0)	(122.7)	0.0
Net cash received in connection with the U.K. JV Transaction	108.6	0.0	0.0
Cash paid in connection with acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(70.8)	(5,267.8)	(23.1)
Proceeds received upon disposition of discontinued operations, net	0.0	0.0	11,203.1
Other investing activities, net	(96.7)	(30.2)	154.6
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities of continuing operations	(5,745.5)	(8,817.2)	9,615.1
Net cash used by investing activities of discontinued operations	(51.0)	(56.8)	(340.5)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	(5,796.5)	(8,874.0)	9,274.6
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings of debt	2,570.7	13,205.8	4,445.8
Operating-related vendor financing additions	1,781.6	2,754.5	2,159.0
Repayments And Repurchases Of Debt And Finance Lease Obligations [Abstract]
Debt (excluding vendor financing)	(1,721.0)	(8,857.1)	(6,292.2)
Principal payments on operating-related vendor financing	(1,408.0)	(2,381.7)	(1,821.9)
Principal payments on capital-related vendor financing	(964.4)	(2,088.8)	(2,085.9)
Principal payments on finance leases	(75.7)	(86.0)	(72.9)
Repurchases of Liberty Global ordinary shares	(1,580.4)	(1,072.3)	(3,219.4)
Net cash received related to derivative instruments	143.6	129.1	331.5
Distributions by subsidiaries to noncontrolling interest owners	(137.6)	(137.1)	(32.6)
Payment of financing costs and debt premiums	(23.3)	(290.0)	(206.8)
Repurchases by Telenet of its outstanding shares	(14.3)	(38.1)	(114.1)
Other financing activities, net	(83.8)	(33.8)	1.0
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities of continuing operations	(1,512.6)	1,104.5	(6,908.5)
Net cash used by financing activities of discontinued operations	(33.3)	(20.9)	(268.1)
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(1,545.9)	1,083.6	(7,176.6)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Continuing operations	(6.6)	141.0	0.4
Discontinued operations	0.0	0.0	(1.2)
Total	(6.6)	141.0	(0.8)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Continuing operations	(3,900.7)	(3,554.9)	6,233.1
Discontinued operations	100.7	91.3	449.5
Total	(3,800.0)	(3,463.6)	6,682.6
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash:
Beginning of year	4,717.3	8,180.9	1,498.3
Net increase (decrease)	(3,800.0)	(3,463.6)	6,682.6
End of year	917.3	4,717.3	8,180.9
Restricted cash included in current assets of discontinued operations
Total cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	830.3	1,126.0	1,421.1
Discontinued operations	1.7	1.7	363.1
Total	832.0	1,127.7	1,784.2
Net cash paid for taxes:
Continuing operations	156.2	228.9	341.4
Discontinued operations	34.2	18.8	152.7
Total	190.4	247.7	494.1
VodafoneZiggo JV
Adjustments to reconcile earnings (loss) from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations:
Share of results of affiliates, net	32.0		185.9
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Dividends received	311.7	249.5	162.7
VMO2 JV
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of the effects of acquisitions and dispositions:
Dividends received	$ 214.8	$ 0.0	$ 0.0