Segment Reporting (Tables)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Segment Reporting Table [Abstract]

Reconciliation Of Assets From Segment To Consolidated Text Block

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Investment Management
Revenues (a)	$	94,850	$	49,761	$	151,614	$	92,559
Operating expenses (a)		(41,315)		(33,266)		(80,238)		(65,752)
Other, net (b)		4,510		1,846		7,226		2,889
Provision for income taxes		(26,056)		(6,373)		(33,436)		(9,948)
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey members	$	31,989	$	11,968	$	45,166	$	19,748
Real Estate Ownership (c)
Revenues	$	23,548	$	20,240	$	44,316	$	39,707
Operating expenses		(13,683)		(10,045)		(24,934)		(20,292)
Interest expense		(5,396)		(3,765)		(9,836)		(7,476)
Other, net (b)		41,515		5,886		45,898		13,712
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes		1,296		(378)		1,102		(915)
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey members	$	47,280	$	11,938	$	56,546	$	24,736
Total Company
Revenues (a)	$	118,398	$	70,001	$	195,930	$	132,266
Operating expenses (a)		(54,998)		(43,311)		(105,172)		(86,044)
Interest expense		(5,396)		(3,765)		(9,836)		(7,476)
Other, net (b)		46,025		7,732		53,124		16,601
Provision for income taxes		(24,760)		(6,751)		(32,334)		(10,863)
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey members	$	79,269	$	23,906	$	101,712	$	44,484

Schedule of Segment Long Lived Assets to Consolidated Assets

	Total Long-Lived Assets (d)at				Total Assets at
	June 30, 2011		December 31, 2010		June 30, 2011		December 31, 2010
Investment Management	$	3,088	$	3,729	$	120,001	$	123,921
Real Estate Ownership		1,231,727		946,976		1,339,705		1,048,405
Total Company	$	1,234,815	$	950,705	$	1,459,706	$	1,172,326

Schedule Of International Investment By Segment [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2011		2010		2011		2010
Lease revenues	$	2,134	$	1,450	$	4,132	$	2,836
Income from equity investments in real estate		1,627		1,416		3,149		2,976
	$	3,761	$	2,866	$	7,281	$	5,812

	June 30, 2011		December 31, 2010
Long-lived assets	$	74,239	$	69,126