Business Segments - Segment Reporting, Reconciliation of Revenues, Operating Income and Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 643,201	$ 580,622	$ 510,404	$ 462,847	$ 450,865	$ 415,151	$ 460,089	$ 434,682	$ 2,197,074	$ 1,760,787	$ 1,750,486
Consolidated net earnings	105,551	$ 103,392	$ 87,348	$ 83,881	74,956	$ 78,112	$ 95,274	$ 71,466	380,172	319,808	304,412
General and administrative expenses									(238,199)	(247,768)	(229,207)
Depreciation and amortization expenses									(880,373)	(642,461)	(648,668)
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net									159,262	134,288	97,220
Interest expense									(301,363)	(308,885)	(379,327)
Interest and other income, net									25,484	25,768	26,948
Gains on dispositions of investments in real estate and revaluation of equity investments upon acquisition of a controlling interest, net									758,887	725,790	597,656
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses) and related amortization, net									12,466	(17,841)	(33,633)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net									(86,303)	(165,300)	(277,014)
Consolidated net earnings (loss)									568,433	393,820	31,850
Earnings before income taxes									948,605	713,628	336,262
Total assets	31,394,767				25,775,001				31,394,767	25,775,001
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	4,755,620				4,824,724				4,755,620	4,824,724
Assets held for sale or contribution	378,423				43,934				378,423	43,934
Notes receivable backed by real estate	235,050				0				235,050	0
Cash and cash equivalents	264,080				350,692				264,080	350,692	491,129	$ 100,810
Other assets	1,514,510				1,156,287				1,514,510	1,156,287
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									2,197,074	1,760,787	1,750,486
Consolidated net earnings									1,498,744	1,210,037	1,182,287
Total assets	25,470,558				20,258,013				25,470,558	20,258,013
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									1,986,712	1,540,916	1,571,014
Consolidated net earnings									1,376,800	1,086,662	1,092,094
Total assets	25,399,230				20,180,083				25,399,230	20,180,083
Operating Segments [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									210,362	219,871	179,472
Consolidated net earnings									121,944	123,375	90,193
Total assets	71,328				77,930				71,328	77,930
Operating Segments [Member] | Americas [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									1,859,393	1,403,564	1,288,925
Consolidated net earnings									1,296,387	1,000,773	899,053
Total assets	22,949,838				17,432,909				22,949,838	17,432,909
Operating Segments [Member] | Americas [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									61,684	95,168	72,474
Consolidated net earnings									14,215	42,042	18,785
Total assets	19,363				20,635				19,363	20,635
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									69,527	74,413	174,397
Consolidated net earnings									39,672	40,627	116,178
Total assets	1,291,991				1,820,529				1,291,991	1,820,529
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									112,793	86,549	63,794
Consolidated net earnings									86,725	57,266	41,263
Total assets	49,960				54,577				49,960	54,577
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									57,792	62,939	107,692
Consolidated net earnings									40,741	45,262	76,863
Total assets	1,157,401				926,645				1,157,401	926,645
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									35,885	38,154	43,204
Consolidated net earnings									21,004	24,067	30,145
Total assets	2,005				2,718				2,005	2,718
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
General and administrative expenses									(238,199)	(247,768)	(229,207)
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net									159,262	134,288	97,220
Interest expense									(301,363)	(308,885)	(379,327)
Interest and other income, net									25,484	25,768	26,948
Gains on dispositions of investments in real estate and revaluation of equity investments upon acquisition of a controlling interest, net									758,887	725,790	597,656
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses) and related amortization, net									12,466	(17,841)	(33,633)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net									(86,303)	(165,300)	(277,014)
Consolidated net earnings (loss)									(550,139)	(496,409)	$ (846,025)
Total assets	5,924,209				5,516,988				5,924,209	5,516,988
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	4,755,620				4,824,724				4,755,620	4,824,724
Notes receivable backed by real estate	235,050				0				235,050	0
Cash and cash equivalents	264,080				350,692				264,080	350,692
Other assets	$ 291,036				$ 297,638				$ 291,036	$ 297,638