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 ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Jan. 25, 2022
Jun. 03, 2019
Dec. 31, 2021
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Sep. 07, 2021
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount     $ 30,406 $ 31,487    
Current portion of long-term debt     (117) (232)    
Unamortized premium, discount and debt issuance costs, net     (590) (644)    
Total Long-Term Debt, Net of Discount and Debt Issuance Costs     29,449 30,471    
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
2022 [1]     992      
2023     1,567      
2024     4,794      
2025     3,537      
2026     1,579      
Thereafter     17,937      
Total     30,406      
Operating lease assets     2,102 759    
Current operating lease liabilities     535 161    
Non-current operating lease liabilities     1,541 $ 597    
Operating Lease, Liability [2]     2,076      
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments            
2022 [2]     600      
2023 [2]     514      
2024 [2]     456      
2025 [2]     244      
2026 [2]     218      
Thereafter [2]     294      
Total lease payments [2]     2,326      
Less: Interest [2]     $ (250)      
Weighted-average remaining lease term     5 years 7 months 6 days 8 years 2 months 12 days    
Weighted-average discount rate [3]     3.60% 5.40%    
Operating cash flows from operating leases     $ 483 $ 309 $ 389  
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities     1,736 615 235  
Total amount paid     9 155 249  
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]            
Cash paid during the period for interest on debt, net of amounts capitalized     $ 1,365 1,395 $ 1,126  
Initial Board Approval [Member]            
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments            
Stock Repurchase Program, Period in Force     3 years      
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount     $ 1,000      
Subsequent Board Approved Increase [Member]            
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments            
Stock Repurchase Program, Period in Force     3 years      
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount     $ 1,000      
Operating lease assets, net [Member]            
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
Operating lease assets     2,102 759    
Current operating lease liabilities [Member]            
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
Current operating lease liabilities     535 161    
Operating lease liabilities [Member]            
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
Non-current operating lease liabilities     1,541 597    
2028 Cheniere Senior Secured Notes [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount     $ 2,000 2,000    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage     4.625%      
2021 Convertible Unsecured Notes [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount     $ 0 [4] 476 [5]    
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage     4.875%      
2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount [6]     $ 625 625 [7]    
Unamortized premium, discount and debt issuance costs, net     $ (304)      
Debt Instrument, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage     4.25%      
Aggregate principal amount     $ 625      
Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount     0 0    
Cheniere Term Loan Facility [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount     0 148    
Cheniere [Member]            
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]            
Debt, Long-term and Short-term, Combined Amount     2,625 3,249    
Current portion of long-term debt     0 (104)    
Unamortized premium, discount and debt issuance costs, net     (340) (355)    
Total Long-Term Debt, Net of Discount and Debt Issuance Costs     2,285 2,790    
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
2022 [8]     625      
2023     0      
2024     0      
2025     0      
2026     0      
Thereafter     2,000      
Total     2,625      
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure     472      
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value     0      
Operating lease assets     19 22    
Current operating lease liabilities     6 5    
Non-current operating lease liabilities     24 30    
Operating Lease, Liability     30 35    
Variable lease costs     4 $ 4    
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments            
2022     8      
2023     8      
2024     7      
2025     6      
2026     6      
Thereafter     1      
Total lease payments     36      
Less: Interest     $ (6)      
Weighted-average remaining lease term     4 years 9 months 18 days 5 years 8 months 12 days    
Weighted-average discount rate     6.60% 6.60%    
Operating cash flows from operating leases     $ 7 $ 7    
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities     $ 0 $ 5    
Aggregate common stock repurchased     0.1 2.9 4.0  
Weighted average price paid per share     $ 87.32 $ 53.88 $ 62.27  
Total amount paid     $ 9 $ 155 $ 249  
Stock Repurchase Program, Remaining Authorized Repurchase Amount     $ 998      
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared     $ 0.33      
Supplemental Cash Flow Information [Abstract]            
Cash paid during the period for interest on debt, net of amounts capitalized     $ 130 45 36  
Non-cash investing and financing activities:            
Non-cash capital distribution (contributions) [9]     $ 0 79 $ 490  
Cheniere [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]            
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments            
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared $ 0.33          
Cheniere [Member] | Initial Board Approval [Member]            
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments            
Stock Repurchase Program, Period in Force   3 years        
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount   $ 1,000        
Cheniere [Member] | Subsequent Board Approved Increase [Member]            
Operating Leases, Future Minimum Payments            
Stock Repurchase Program, Period in Force     3 years      
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount           $ 1,000
Cheniere [Member] | General and Administrative Expense [Member]            
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
Operating lease cost [10]     $ 9 10    
Cheniere [Member] | Operating lease assets, net [Member]            
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
Operating lease assets     19 22    
Cheniere [Member] | Current operating lease liabilities [Member]            
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
Current operating lease liabilities     6 5    
Cheniere [Member] | Operating lease liabilities [Member]            
Long-term Debt, Fiscal Year Maturity [Abstract]            
Non-current operating lease liabilities     $ 24 $ 30    
[1] Includes $625 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes as we issued a notice of redemption on December 6, 2021 for all amounts outstanding. As discussed above, the balance is classified as long-term debt in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as the redemption was financed with long-term borrowings subsequent to the balance sheet date. See Convertible Notes section below for further discussion of the redemption.
[2] Does not include approximately $1.2 billion of legally binding minimum lease payments primarily for vessel charters which were executed as of December 31, 2021 but will commence in future periods primarily in the next year and have fixed minimum lease terms of up to 10 years.
[3] The finance leases commenced prior to the adoption of the current leasing standard under GAAP. In accordance with previous accounting guidance, the implied rate is based on the fair value of the underlying assets.
[4] A portion of the outstanding balance that is due within one year is classified as current portion of long-term debt.
[5] A portion of the outstanding balance that is due within one year is classified as current portion of long-term debt.
[6] The redemption of these notes was financed with borrowings under the Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility, which is a long-term debt instrument. Therefore, the 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2045 were classified as long-term debt as of December 31, 2021.
[7] The redemption of these notes was financed with borrowings under the Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility, which is a long-term debt instrument. Therefore, the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes were classified as long-term debt as of December 31, 2021. See Convertible Notes section below for further discussion of the redemption.
[8] Includes $625 million aggregate principal amount outstanding of the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes as we issued a notice of redemption on December 6, 2021 for all amounts outstanding. As discussed above, the balance is classified as long-term debt in our Balance Sheets as the redemption was financed with long-term borrowings subsequent to the balance sheet date.
[9] Amounts represent undistributed equity income of affiliates.
[10] Includes $4 million of variable lease costs paid to the lessor during each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020.