Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Total operating properties and development portfolio per Schedule III	$ 33,157,100	$ 32,774,956	$ 24,178,816	$ 45,390,230	$ 33,157,100
Land				1,606,358
Other real estate investments (i)				3,387,740
Total per Consolidated Balance Sheets				50,384,328	35,224,414
Aggregate cost for Federal tax purposes				36,000,000
Total accumulated depreciation per Schedule III	5,294,212	4,550,958	3,971,501	6,370,341	5,294,212
Accumulated depreciation on other real estate investments		168,815
Total per Consolidated Balance Sheets				6,539,156	$ 5,437,662
Mortgage notes, aggregate cost of secured properties				1,600,000
Mortgage notes	639,000
Assessment bonds				$ 10,300
Assessment bonds, aggregate undepreciated cost	622,500
Real estate assets:
Balance at beginning of year	33,157,100	32,774,956	24,178,816
Acquisitions of and improvements to operating properties, development activity and net effect of changes in foreign exchange rates and other	13,985,898	2,821,919	10,106,651
Basis of operating properties disposed of	(1,045,128)	(1,471,764)	(1,461,458)
Change in the development portfolio balance, including the acquisition of properties	13,345	(273,534)	549,312
Assets transferred to held for sale and contribution	(720,985)	(694,477)	(598,365)
Balance at end year	45,390,230	33,157,100	32,774,956
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance at beginning of year	5,294,212	4,550,958	3,971,501
Depreciation expense	1,112,075	843,872	703,215
Balances retired upon disposition of operating properties and net effect of changes in foreign exchange rates and other	(35,083)	(77,583)	(119,029)
Assets transferred to held for sale and contribution	(863)	(23,035)	(4,729)
Balance at end of year	$ 6,370,341	$ 5,294,212	$ 4,550,958