Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Activities
Net income (loss)	$ 404,047	$ 402,793	$ 194,204
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	544,612	477,661	416,783
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	47,570	1,122	3,451
Impairment of real estate	12,334	6,311	203
Gain on sale of real estate - rental properties	(474)	(8,704)	(270)
Gain on sales of real estate - land parcels	0	0	(111)
Equity in (earnings) losses of unconsolidated real estate joint ventures	(10,136)	(43,981)	(15,426)
Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated real estate joint ventures	2,796	430	1,618
Amortization of loan fees	9,105	10,271	11,149
Amortization of debt discount (premiums)	(3,777)	(2,406)	(2,512)
Amortization of acquired below-market leases	(29,813)	(21,938)	(19,055)
Deferred rent	(104,235)	(93,883)	(107,643)
Stock compensation expense	43,640	35,019	25,610
Investment income	(194,647)	(136,763)	(1,329)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Tenant receivables	(897)	435	(502)
Deferred leasing costs	(54,455)	(57,088)	(62,639)
Other assets	(20,825)	(20,849)	(18,222)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and tenant security deposits	39,012	21,909	25,573
Net cash provided by operating activities	683,857	570,339	450,882
Investing Activities
Proceeds from sales of real estate	6,619	20,190	15,432
Additions to real estate	(1,224,541)	(927,168)	(893,685)
Purchase of real estate	(2,259,778)	(1,037,180)	(675,584)
Deposits for investing activities	(18,107)	(2,000)	(2,300)
Acquisition of interest in unconsolidated real estate joint venture	0	(35,922)	(60,291)
Investments in unconsolidated real estate joint venture	(102,081)	(116,008)	(17,876)
Return of capital from unconsolidated real estate joint ventures	14	68,592	38,576
Additions to investments	(190,778)	(235,943)	(171,881)
Proceeds from sales of investments	147,332	103,679	30,483
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,641,320)	(2,161,760)	(1,737,126)
Financing Activities
Borrowings from secured notes payable	0	17,784	153,405
Repayments of borrowings from secured notes payable	(306,199)	(156,888)	(396,240)
Proceeds from issuance of unsecured senior notes payable	2,721,169	899,321	1,023,262
Repayments of unsecured senior notes payable	(950,000)	0	0
Borrowings from unsecured senior line of credit	5,056,000	4,741,000	3,858,000
Repayments of borrowings from unsecured senior line of credit	(4,880,000)	(4,583,000)	(3,836,000)
Proceeds from issuance of commercial paper program	2,233,000	0	0
Repayments of borrowings from commercial paper program	(2,233,000)	0	0
Repayment of unsecured senior bank term loan	(350,000)	(200,000)	(200,000)
Premium paid for early extinguishment of debt	(41,351)	0
Payment of loan fees	(27,182)	(19,292)	(10,019)
Taxes paid related to net settlement of equity awards	(25,477)	0	0
Repurchase of 7.00% Series D convertible preferred stock	(9,240)	(13,976)	(17,934)
Redemption of 6.45% Series E redeemable preferred stock	0	0	(130,350)
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock	1,216,445	1,293,301	1,275,397
Dividends paid on common stock	(447,029)	(380,632)	(312,131)
Dividends paid on preferred stock	(4,141)	(5,207)	(9,619)
Contributions from and sales of noncontrolling interests	1,022,712	28,275	44,931
Distributions to and purchases of noncontrolling interests	(48,225)	(32,253)	(22,361)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,927,482	1,588,433	1,420,341
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	540	(2,068)	1,723
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(29,441)	(5,056)	135,820
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of the beginning of period	272,130	277,186	141,366
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of the end of period	242,689	272,130	277,186
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Cash paid during the period for interest, net of interest capitalized	146,165	127,093	112,113
Supplemental Disclosure and Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Change in accrued construction	(24)	81,177	(11,034)
Accrued construction for current-period additions to real estate	220,773	244,147	179,154
Assumption of secured notes payable in connection with purchase of properties	(28,200)	0	0
Right-of-use asset	269,189	0	0
Lease liability	(275,175)	0	0
Payable for purchase of real estate	0	(65,000)	0
Contribution of real estate to an unconsolidated real estate joint venture	0	0	6,998
Contribution of real estate from noncontrolling interests	115,167	0	8,597
Issuance of common stock for conversion of 7.00% Series D preferred stock	$ 57,461	$ 0	$ 0