Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 25,800,888	$ 68,948	$ 6,296	$ 25,685,987	$ (1,084,671)	$ (2,378,467)	$ 3,502,795
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018			629,616
Consolidated net earnings	1,275,604					1,185,968	89,636
Effect of equity compensation plans	74,072		$ 10	22,480			51,582
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares			942
Capital contributions	9,076						9,076
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(1,375)			2,557			(3,932)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests	(105,491)		$ 11	31,630			(137,132)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests, shares			1,185
Contribution to Brazil venture	(12,630)						(12,630)
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	42,471				41,206		1,265
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, net	(6,974)				(6,781)		(193)
Reallocation of equity				(48,985)			48,985
Dividends and other distributions	(1,140,064)			(17)		(1,008,962)	(131,085)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	25,935,577	68,948	$ 6,317	25,693,652	(1,050,246)	(2,201,461)	3,418,367
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2019			631,743
Balance at Jun. 30, 2019	25,777,433	68,948	$ 6,311	25,651,666	(1,079,109)	(2,317,008)	3,446,625
Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2019			631,054
Consolidated net earnings	491,013					452,146	38,867
Effect of equity compensation plans	26,200		$ 1	11,938			14,261
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares			51
Capital contributions	5						5
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(1,375)			2,557			(3,932)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests	(9,607)		$ 5	22,158			(31,770)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests, shares			638
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	30,053				29,469		584
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, net	(616)				(606)		(10)
Reallocation of equity				5,333			(5,333)
Dividends and other distributions	(377,529)					(336,599)	(40,930)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2019	25,935,577	68,948	$ 6,317	25,693,652	(1,050,246)	(2,201,461)	3,418,367
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2019			631,743
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 26,071,784	$ 68,948	$ 6,318	25,719,427	(990,398)	(2,151,168)	3,418,657
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019	631,797		631,797
Consolidated net earnings	$ 1,308,623					1,199,920	108,703
Effect of equity compensation plans	85,008		$ 7	21,096			63,905
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares			655
Liberty Transaction, net of issuance costs	10,013,526		$ 1,067	9,801,373			211,086
Liberty Transaction, net of issuance costs, shares			106,723
Issuance of units related to acquisitions	48,533						48,533
Repurchase of common shares	(34,829)		$ (5)	(34,824)
Repurchase of common shares, shares			(539)
Repurchase of preferred stock	(7,200)			147		(2,347)
Repurchase of preferred stock, shares		(5,000)
Capital contributions	916,974						916,974
Redemption of noncontrolling interests	(111,777)		$ 3	14,249			(126,029)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests, shares			329
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	(180,162)				(174,903)		(5,259)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, net	(19,696)				(19,164)		(532)
Reallocation of equity				(64,752)			64,752
Dividends and other distributions	(1,601,477)			(493)		(1,292,326)	(308,658)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 36,489,307	$ 63,948	$ 7,390	35,456,223	(1,184,465)	(2,245,921)	4,392,132
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2020	738,965		738,965
Balance at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 36,746,209	$ 68,948	$ 7,387	35,424,401	(1,142,129)	(2,115,679)	4,503,281
Balance, shares at Jun. 30, 2020			738,732
Consolidated net earnings	332,521					302,694	29,827
Effect of equity compensation plans	35,180		$ 1	14,274			20,905
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares			9
Issuance of units related to acquisitions	48,533						48,533
Repurchase of preferred stock	(7,200)			147		(2,347)
Repurchase of preferred stock, shares		(5,000)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests	(69,034)		$ 2	9,698			(78,734)
Redemption of noncontrolling interests, shares			224
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	(45,576)				(44,637)		(939)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, net	2,379				2,301		78
Reallocation of equity				7,707			(7,707)
Dividends and other distributions	(553,705)			(4)		(430,589)	(123,112)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 36,489,307	$ 63,948	$ 7,390	$ 35,456,223	$ (1,184,465)	$ (2,245,921)	$ 4,392,132
Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2020	738,965		738,965