Stock-Based Compensation - Stock Award Activity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Nov. 06, 2020	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Stock option activity
Total options outstanding, end of period (in shares)		13,953,818
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Total options outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 32.89
Ergen 2020 Performance Award [Member]
Stock option activity
Granted (in shares)	12,500,000
Additional disclosures
Granted (in shares)	12,500,000
Long-Term Performance Based Plans
Stock option activity
Total options outstanding, end of period (in shares)		1,363,875
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Total options outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 34.63
Stock options
Stock option activity
Total options outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)		27,248,662	13,715,612	14,202,039
Granted (in shares)		2,005,000	15,410,500	1,538,250
Exercised (in shares)		(1,316,485)	(714,595)	(714,061)
Forfeited and cancelled (in shares)		(1,234,274)	(1,162,855)	(1,310,616)
Total options outstanding, end of period (in shares)		26,702,903	27,248,662	13,715,612
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)		7,741,300	5,193,238	2,507,834
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Total options outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 34.85	$ 41.71	$ 42.08
Granted (in dollars per share)		39.56	28.71	33.44
Exercised (in dollars per share)		31.49	17.44	27.46
Forfeited and cancelled (in dollars per share)		43.83	45.17	43.72
Total options outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		34.95	34.85	41.71
Exercisable, Weighted-Average Exercise Price (in dollars per share)		$ 37.04	$ 40.21	$ 44.93
Share-based compensation additional disclosures
Tax benefit from stock awards exercised		$ 4,153	$ 7,576	$ 1,239
Additional disclosures
Granted (in shares)		2,005,000	15,410,500	1,538,250
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding		$ 64,449
Aggregate intrinsic value of stock options exercisable		$ 13,448
Stock options | Long-Term Performance Based Plans
Stock option activity
Total options outstanding, beginning of period (in shares)		17,403,339	7,965,501
Total options outstanding, end of period (in shares)		13,953,818	17,403,339	7,965,501
Weighted-Average Exercise Price
Total options outstanding, beginning of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 32.59	$ 40.10
Total options outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share)		$ 32.89	$ 32.59	$ 40.10