Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Debt (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Debt (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal $ 5,891us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount  
Total debt 5,852us-gaap_LongTermDebt 5,555us-gaap_LongTermDebt
Less debt classified as current (257)us-gaap_DebtCurrent (777)us-gaap_DebtCurrent
Total long-term debt 5,595us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent 4,778us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
1.375% Cash Convertible Senior Notes due 2023    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 1,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_A1.375CashConvertibleSeniorNotesdue2023Member
 
Total debt 990us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_A1.375CashConvertibleSeniorNotesdue2023Member
1,002us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_A1.375CashConvertibleSeniorNotesdue2023Member
Debt instrument interest rate 1.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_A1.375CashConvertibleSeniorNotesdue2023Member
 
Margin loan    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 250us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_MarginloanMember
 
Total debt 250us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_MarginloanMember
920us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_MarginloanMember
Sirius XM 7% Exchangeable Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Total debt   520us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXm7ExchangeableSeniorSubordinatedNotesDue2014Member
Debt instrument interest rate 7.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXm7ExchangeableSeniorSubordinatedNotesDue2014Member
 
Sirius XM 5.875% Senior Notes due 2020    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 650us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM5.875SeniorNotesdue2020Member
 
Total debt 644us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM5.875SeniorNotesdue2020Member
643us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM5.875SeniorNotesdue2020Member
Debt instrument interest rate 5.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM5.875SeniorNotesdue2020Member
 
Sirius XM 5.75% Senior Notes due 2021    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 600us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM5.75SeniorNotesdue2021Member
 
Total debt 595us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM5.75SeniorNotesdue2021Member
594us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM5.75SeniorNotesdue2021Member
Debt instrument interest rate 5.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM5.75SeniorNotesdue2021Member
 
Sirius XM 5.25% Senior Notes due 2022    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 400us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXm525SeniorNotesDue2022Member
 
Total debt 407us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXm525SeniorNotesDue2022Member
407us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXm525SeniorNotesDue2022Member
Debt instrument interest rate 5.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXm525SeniorNotesDue2022Member
 
Sirius XM 4.25% Senior Notes due 2020    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM4.25SeniorNotesdue2020Member
 
Total debt 496us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM4.25SeniorNotesdue2020Member
494us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM4.25SeniorNotesdue2020Member
Debt instrument interest rate 4.25%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM4.25SeniorNotesdue2020Member
 
Sirius XM 4.625% Senior Notes due 2023    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM4.625SeniorNotesdue2023Member
 
Total debt 495us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM4.625SeniorNotesdue2023Member
495us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM4.625SeniorNotesdue2023Member
Debt instrument interest rate 4.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM4.625SeniorNotesdue2023Member
 
Sirius XM 6.00% Senior Notes Due 2024 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 1,500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM6.00SeniorNotesDue2024Member
 
Total debt 1,484us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM6.00SeniorNotesDue2024Member
 
Debt instrument interest rate 6.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXM6.00SeniorNotesDue2024Member
 
Sirius XM credit facility    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 380us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXmCreditFacilityMember
 
Total debt 380us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXmCreditFacilityMember
460us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_SiriusXmCreditFacilityMember
Other Debt    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Outstanding principal 111us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_OtherDebtMember
 
Total debt $ 111us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_OtherDebtMember
$ 20us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= lmca_OtherDebtMember