Business Segments - Segment Reporting, Reconciliation of Revenues, Operating Income and Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 602,155	$ 510,404	$ 1,208,455	$ 973,251
Consolidated net earnings	142,348	87,348	271,546	171,229
General and administrative expenses	(56,934)	(51,974)	(107,477)	(103,280)
Depreciation and amortization expenses	(230,382)	(190,188)	(480,382)	(359,996)
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net	41,454	41,784	99,765	72,826
Interest expense	(76,455)	(68,902)	(157,267)	(137,663)
Interest and other income, net	1,527	1,847	4,118	12,896
Gains on dispositions of investments in real estate, net	200,350	108,782	344,667	386,497
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses), net	(10,335)	(25,512)	(24,546)	9,054
Gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, net	2,044	(236)	992	(16,525)
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	158,585	57,763	267,729	327,085
Earnings before income taxes	300,933	145,111	539,275	498,314
Total assets	30,745,934		30,745,934		$ 31,394,767
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	4,483,804		4,483,804		4,755,620
Assets held for sale or contribution	393,434		393,434		378,423
Notes receivable backed by real estate	33,800		33,800		235,050
Cash and cash equivalents	332,221	351,025	332,221	351,025	264,080	$ 350,692
Other assets	1,467,463		1,467,463		1,514,510
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	602,155	510,404	1,208,455	973,251
Consolidated net earnings	429,664	329,510	859,405	634,505
Total assets	25,247,167		25,247,167		25,470,558
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	550,833	463,358	1,107,467	884,180
Consolidated net earnings	406,208	307,411	811,576	595,563
Total assets	25,176,895		25,176,895		25,399,230
Operating Segments [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	51,322	47,046	100,988	89,071
Consolidated net earnings	23,456	22,099	47,829	38,942
Total assets	70,272		70,272		71,328
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	501,707	418,494	1,012,864	794,692
Consolidated net earnings	369,785	278,128	745,503	537,706
Total assets	21,377,414		21,377,414		22,030,457
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	9,580	10,103	18,936	19,460
Consolidated net earnings	827	1,429	2,536	3,009
Total assets	18,727		18,727		19,363
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Americas [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	15,083	13,835	29,039	28,267
Consolidated net earnings	10,517	8,930	18,731	18,773
Total assets	1,023,165		1,023,165		919,381
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Americas [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	5,693	7,013	11,058	12,582
Consolidated net earnings	3,052	4,825	6,167	7,758
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	19,540	16,681	36,329	35,450
Consolidated net earnings	15,335	10,143	26,954	21,081
Total assets	1,424,352		1,424,352		1,291,991
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	25,519	21,001	47,788	39,394
Consolidated net earnings	18,443	14,330	33,749	26,125
Total assets	49,636		49,636		49,960
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	14,503	14,348	29,235	25,771
Consolidated net earnings	10,571	10,210	20,388	18,003
Total assets	1,351,964		1,351,964		1,157,401
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	10,530	8,929	23,206	17,635
Consolidated net earnings	1,134	1,515	5,377	2,050
Total assets	1,909		1,909		2,005
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
General and administrative expenses	(56,934)	(51,974)	(107,477)	(103,280)
Depreciation and amortization expenses	(230,382)	(190,188)	(480,382)	(359,996)
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net	41,454	41,784	99,765	72,826
Interest expense	(76,455)	(68,902)	(157,267)	(137,663)
Interest and other income, net	1,527	1,847	4,118	12,896
Gains on dispositions of investments in real estate, net	200,350	108,782	344,667	386,497
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses), net	(10,335)	(25,512)	(24,546)	9,054
Gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, net	2,044	(236)	992	(16,525)
Consolidated net earnings (loss)	(128,731)	$ (184,399)	(320,130)	$ (136,191)
Total assets	5,498,767		5,498,767		5,924,209
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	4,483,804		4,483,804		4,755,620
Assets held for sale or contribution	393,434		393,434		378,423
Notes receivable backed by real estate	33,800		33,800		235,050
Cash and cash equivalents	332,221		332,221		264,080
Other assets	$ 255,508		$ 255,508		$ 291,036