Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Footnotes (Details)

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Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant - Footnotes (Details) - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Dec. 31, 2017
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 01, 2018
Oct. 31, 2016
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Unamortized premium, discount and debt issuance costs, net $ (775,000,000) $ (730,000,000)      
Long-Term Debt, Net 28,179,000,000 25,336,000,000      
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]          
2019 239,000,000        
2020 0        
2021 3,218,000,000        
2022 1,000,000,000        
2023 1,500,000,000        
Thereafter 23,236,000,000        
Total 29,193,000,000        
Accumulated interest payable 233,000,000 397,000,000      
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]          
Cash paid during the period for interest, net of amounts capitalized 707,000,000 305,000,000 $ 66,000,000    
Non-cash investing and financing activities:          
Issuance of stock to acquire additional interest in Cheniere Holdings 8,000,000 0 0    
2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes [Member]          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Long-term Debt, Gross $ 1,218,000,000 1,161,000,000      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4.875%        
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]          
Aggregate principal amount $ 1,000,000,000        
2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes [Member]          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Long-term Debt, Gross $ 625,000,000 625,000,000      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4.25%        
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]          
Aggregate principal amount $ 625,000,000        
Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Long-term Debt, Gross 0 0      
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 1,250,000,000     $ 750,000,000  
Parent Company [Member]          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Unamortized premium, discount and debt issuance costs, net (407,000,000) (438,000,000)      
Long-Term Debt, Net 1,436,000,000 1,348,000,000      
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]          
2019 0        
2020 0        
2021 1,218,000,000        
2022 0        
2023 0        
Thereafter 625,000,000        
Total 1,843,000,000        
Forgiveness of Debt     151,000,000    
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure 494,000,000        
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value 0        
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]          
Cash paid during the period for interest, net of amounts capitalized 32,000,000 31,000,000 20,000,000    
Non-cash investing and financing activities:          
Non-cash capital distribution (contributions) [1] 607,000,000 (268,000,000) (517,000,000)    
Non-cash capital contribution from subsidiaries for forgiveness of debt 0 0 151,000,000    
Non-cash capital distribution to subsidiaries for forgiveness of debt 0 0 (868,000,000)    
Parent Company [Member] | 2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes [Member]          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Long-term Debt, Gross $ 1,218,000,000 1,161,000,000      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4.875%        
Parent Company [Member] | 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes [Member]          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Long-term Debt, Gross $ 625,000,000 625,000,000      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage 4.25%        
Parent Company [Member] | Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility [Member]          
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]          
Long-term Debt, Gross $ 0 0      
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity 1,250,000,000 750,000,000      
Parent Company [Member] | Affiliate Note Payable [Member]          
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]          
Aggregate principal amount         $ 94,000,000
Accumulated interest payable         $ 57,000,000
Non-controlling Interest          
Non-cash investing and financing activities:          
Issuance of stock to acquire additional interest in Cheniere Holdings $ 702,000,000 $ 2,000,000 $ 94,000,000    
[1] (1)Amounts represent equity income (losses) of affiliates.