Business and Organization	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Business and Organization	Business and Organization W. P. Carey Inc. is a REIT that provides long-term financing via sale-leaseback and build-to-suit transactions for companies worldwide and manages a global investment portfolio. We invest primarily in commercial properties domestically and internationally. We earn revenue principally by leasing the properties we own to single corporate tenants, primarily on a triple-net leased basis, which requires each tenant to pay substantially all of the costs associated with operating and maintaining the property. Through our TRSs, we also earn revenue as the advisor to publicly-owned, non-listed REITs, which are sponsored by us under the Corporate Property Associates brand name and invest in similar properties. At December 31, 2013, we were the advisor to the following CPA^® REITs: CPA^®:16 – Global, CPA^®:17 – Global and CPA^®:18 – Global. We were also the advisor to CWI, which acquires interests in lodging and lodging-related properties. At December 31, 2013, we owned and/or managed 1,021 properties domestically and internationally. Our owned portfolio was comprised of our full or partial ownership interest in 418 properties, substantially all of which were net leased to 128 tenants, with an occupancy rate of 98.9%, and totaled approximately 39.5 million square feet. All references to occupancy and square feet are unaudited. We were formed as a corporation under the laws of Maryland on February 15, 2012. On September 28, 2012, CPA^®:15 merged with and into us, with CPA^®:15 surviving as an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of ours. In connection with the CPA^®:15 Merger, W. P. Carey & Co. LLC, our predecessor, which was formed under the laws of Delaware on July 15, 1996, completed an internal reorganization whereby W. P. Carey & Co. LLC and its subsidiaries merged with and into us, with W. P. Carey as the surviving corporation, succeeding to and continuing to operate the existing business of our predecessor. Upon completion of the CPA^®:15 Merger and the REIT Reorganization, the shares of our predecessor were delisted from the NYSE and canceled, and our common stock became listed on the NYSE under the same symbol, “WPC.” On January 31, 2014, CPA^®:16 – Global merged with and into us based on a merger agreement, dated as of July 25, 2013 (Note 20). We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Section 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, we are not generally subject to U.S. federal income taxation as long as we satisfy certain requirements, principally relating to the nature of our income and the level of our distributions, as well as other factors. We now hold substantially all of our real estate assets attributable to our Real Estate Ownership segment under the REIT structure, while the activities conducted by our Investment Management segment subsidiaries have been organized under TRSs. Primary Reportable Segments Real Estate Ownership — We own and invest in commercial properties principally in the U.S. and the European Union that are then leased to companies, primarily on a triple-net lease basis. We may also invest in other properties if opportunities arise. We earn lease revenues from our wholly-owned and co-owned real estate investments. In addition, we generate equity income through co-owned real estate investments that we do not control and our investments in the shares of the Managed REITs (Note 7). Through our special member interests in the operating partnerships of the Managed REITs, we also participate in their cash flows (Note 4). Investment Management — Through our TRSs, we structure and negotiate investments and debt placement transactions for the Managed REITs, for which we earn structuring revenue, and manage their portfolios of real estate investments, for which we earn asset-based management and performance revenue. We may also earn incentive and disposition revenue and receive other compensation in connection with providing liquidity alternatives to the Managed REITs’ stockholders.

Business and Organization

W. P. Carey Inc. is a REIT that provides long-term financing via sale-leaseback and build-to-suit transactions for companies worldwide and manages a global investment portfolio. We invest primarily in commercial properties domestically and internationally. We earn revenue principally by leasing the properties we own to single corporate tenants, primarily on a triple-net leased basis, which requires each tenant to pay substantially all of the costs associated with operating and maintaining the property. Through our TRSs, we also earn revenue as the advisor to publicly-owned, non-listed REITs, which are sponsored by us under the Corporate Property Associates brand name and invest in similar properties. At December 31, 2013, we were the advisor to the following CPA^® REITs: CPA^®:16 – Global, CPA^®:17 – Global and CPA^®:18 – Global. We were also the advisor to CWI, which acquires interests in lodging and lodging-related properties. At December 31, 2013, we owned and/or managed 1,021 properties domestically and internationally. Our owned portfolio was comprised of our full or partial ownership interest in 418 properties, substantially all of which were net leased to 128 tenants, with an occupancy rate of 98.9%, and totaled approximately 39.5 million square feet. All references to occupancy and square feet are unaudited.

We were formed as a corporation under the laws of Maryland on February 15, 2012. On September 28, 2012, CPA^®:15 merged with and into us, with CPA^®:15 surviving as an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of ours. In connection with the CPA^®:15 Merger, W. P. Carey & Co. LLC, our predecessor, which was formed under the laws of Delaware on July 15, 1996, completed an internal reorganization whereby W. P. Carey & Co. LLC and its subsidiaries merged with and into us, with W. P. Carey as the surviving corporation, succeeding to and continuing to operate the existing business of our predecessor. Upon completion of the CPA^®:15 Merger and the REIT Reorganization, the shares of our predecessor were delisted from the NYSE and canceled, and our common stock became listed on the NYSE under the same symbol, “WPC.”

On January 31, 2014, CPA^®:16 – Global merged with and into us based on a merger agreement, dated as of July 25, 2013 (Note 20).

We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Section 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, we are not generally subject to U.S. federal income taxation as long as we satisfy certain requirements, principally relating to the nature of our income and the level of our distributions, as well as other factors. We now hold substantially all of our real estate assets attributable to our Real Estate Ownership segment under the REIT structure, while the activities conducted by our Investment Management segment subsidiaries have been organized under TRSs.

Primary Reportable Segments

Real Estate Ownership — We own and invest in commercial properties principally in the U.S. and the European Union that are then leased to companies, primarily on a triple-net lease basis. We may also invest in other properties if opportunities arise. We earn lease revenues from our wholly-owned and co-owned real estate investments. In addition, we generate equity income through co-owned real estate investments that we do not control and our investments in the shares of the Managed REITs (Note 7). Through our special member interests in the operating partnerships of the Managed REITs, we also participate in their cash flows (Note 4).

Investment Management — Through our TRSs, we structure and negotiate investments and debt placement transactions for the Managed REITs, for which we earn structuring revenue, and manage their portfolios of real estate investments, for which we earn asset-based management and performance revenue. We may also earn incentive and disposition revenue and receive other compensation in connection with providing liquidity alternatives to the Managed REITs’ stockholders.