Business Segments - Segment Reporting, Reconciliation of Revenues, Operating Income and Assets (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 460,089	$ 410,693	$ 894,771	$ 890,664
General and administrative expenses	(60,375)	(54,909)	(123,578)	(111,106)
Depreciation and amortization	(161,577)	(155,656)	(321,857)	(327,776)
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net	21,151	8,421	50,897	33,189
Interest expense	(80,184)	(92,214)	(165,707)	(206,854)
Interest and other income, net	5,116	4,492	19,166	16,119
Gains on acquisitions and dispositions of investments in real estate, net	169,583	61,035	186,638	399,880
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses) and related amortization, net	10,130	(7,744)	(18,054)	(6,860)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	(77,558)	(32,608)	(77,285)	(49,959)
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	152,430	(4,985)	164,433	291,947
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	143,512	(104)	162,395	341,067
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	5,575,423		5,575,423		4,430,239
Cash and cash equivalents	267,427	385,424	267,427	385,424	491,129	100,810
Total assets	24,131,562		24,131,562		24,572,307
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	460,089	410,693	894,771	890,664
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	317,226	269,079	612,175	594,434
Total assets	18,002,437		18,002,437		19,190,865
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	383,755	367,085	773,127	813,421
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	268,729	250,477	542,531	562,106
Total assets	17,918,398		17,918,398		19,104,750
Operating Segments [Member] | Investment Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	76,334	43,608	121,644	77,243
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	48,497	18,602	69,644	32,328
Total assets	84,039		84,039		86,115
Operating Segments [Member] | Americas [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	344,347	315,471	700,472	623,871
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	243,269	216,666	496,730	432,794
Total assets	14,848,220		14,848,220		16,293,109
Operating Segments [Member] | Americas [Member] | Investment Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	47,315	15,428	61,890	31,615
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	30,092	361	32,148	3,244
Total assets	21,484		21,484		22,154
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	20,473	29,295	36,661	128,762
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	11,410	18,492	19,634	85,698
Total assets	1,786,672		1,786,672		1,634,867
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Investment Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	19,453	13,854	41,153	24,467
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	12,125	7,530	25,809	14,401
Total assets	59,235		59,235		60,327
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	18,935	22,319	35,994	60,788
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	14,050	15,319	26,167	43,614
Total assets	1,283,506		1,283,506		1,176,774
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Investment Management [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	9,566	14,326	18,601	21,161
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	6,280	10,711	11,687	14,683
Total assets	3,320		3,320		3,634
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
General and administrative expenses	(60,375)	(54,909)	(123,578)	(111,106)
Depreciation and amortization	(161,577)	(155,656)	(321,857)	(327,776)
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net	21,151	8,421	50,897	33,189
Interest expense	(80,184)	(92,214)	(165,707)	(206,854)
Interest and other income, net	5,116	4,492	19,166	16,119
Gains on acquisitions and dispositions of investments in real estate, net	169,583	61,035	186,638	399,880
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses) and related amortization, net	10,130	(7,744)	(18,054)	(6,860)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	(77,558)	(32,608)	(77,285)	(49,959)
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	(173,714)	(269,183)	(449,780)	(253,367)
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	5,575,423		5,575,423		4,430,239
Notes receivable backed by real estate and other					192,042
Cash and cash equivalents	267,427		267,427		491,129
Other assets	286,275		286,275		268,032
Total assets	$ 6,129,125		$ 6,129,125		$ 5,381,442