Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Total operating properties and development portfolio per Schedule III	$ 32,774,956	$ 24,178,816	$ 25,375,539	$ 33,157,100	$ 32,774,956
Land				1,101,646
Other real estate investments				965,668
Total per Consolidated Balance Sheets				35,224,414	34,586,987
Aggregate cost for Federal tax purposes				23,500,000
Total accumulated depreciation per Schedule III	4,550,958	3,971,501	3,679,479	5,294,212	4,550,958
Accumulated depreciation on other real estate investments	143,450
Total per Consolidated Balance Sheets				5,437,662	$ 4,656,680
Mortgage notes, aggregate cost of secured properties				1,700,000
Mortgage notes	557,000
Assessment bonds				$ 10,900
Assessment bonds, aggregate undepreciated cost	601,900
Real estate assets:
Balance at beginning of year	32,774,956	24,178,816	25,375,539
Acquisitions of and improvements to operating properties, development activity and net effect of changes in foreign exchange rates and other	2,821,919	10,106,651	2,680,484
Basis of operating properties disposed of	(1,471,764)	(1,461,458)	(3,697,798)
Change in the development portfolio balance, including the acquisition of properties	(273,534)	549,312	161,408
Assets transferred to held for sale and contribution	(694,477)	(598,365)	(340,817)
Balance at end year	33,157,100	32,774,956	24,178,816
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance at beginning of year	4,550,958	3,971,501	3,679,479
Depreciation expense	843,872	703,215	614,756
Balances retired upon disposition of operating properties and net effect of changes in foreign exchange rates and other	(77,583)	(119,029)	(313,584)
Assets transferred to held for sale and contribution	(23,035)	(4,729)	(9,150)
Balance at end of year	$ 5,294,212	$ 4,550,958	$ 3,971,501
Standard Tenant Improvements [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	10 years
Properties Developed [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	40 years
Minimum [Member] | Capital Improvements [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	5 years
Minimum [Member] | Land improvements on developed buildings [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	15 years
Minimum [Member] | Acquired Industrial Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	25 years
Maximum [Member] | Capital Improvements [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	7 years
Maximum [Member] | Land improvements on developed buildings [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	25 years
Maximum [Member] | Acquired Industrial Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Useful lives for real estate assets	35 years