Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 593,900	$ 351,273
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	179,685	167,705
Amortization of deferred financing costs	6,656	7,356
Non-cash interest expense related to amortization of discount on equity component of exchangeable senior notes	0	3,675
Non-cash lease expense	1,396	799
Compensation expense related to stock-based awards	12,647	11,316
Accrual of interest income added to principal of debt securities and notes receivable	(25,871)	0
Gain on real estate transactions	(63,883)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated real estate ventures - gain on sale of real estate assets and purchase of joint venture partner's interest	(6,251)	0
Distributions from unconsolidated real estate ventures in excess of earnings	4,640	5,097
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other assets	(10,612)	(17,977)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	33,907	41,780
Other liabilities	3,054	12,243
Net cash provided by operating activities	729,268	583,267
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisition of real estate assets	(589,382)	(151,244)
Development and redevelopment of real estate assets	(42,719)	(46,112)
Proceeds from sale of real estate assets and investments in real estate ventures	196,241	234
Investment in unconsolidated real estate entities	(20,834)	(13,937)
Return of investment in unconsolidated real estate ventures	31,534	371
Issuance and purchase of notes receivable	(143,270)	(149,750)
Principal payments received from notes receivable	36,874	0
Proceeds from sale of notes receivable	116,822	0
Purchase of equipment and fixtures	(3,058)	(3,407)
Net cash used in investing activities	(417,792)	(363,845)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from the sale of common stock, net of offering costs	273,358	0
Proceeds from notes payable and revolving lines of credit	3,323,000	1,419,000
Principal payments on notes payable and revolving lines of credit	(4,526,549)	(1,192,750)
Proceeds from issuance of public bonds, net	1,040,349	0
Deferred financing costs	(10,698)	(3,161)
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options	4,572	2,870
Repurchase of common stock	0	(67,873)
Redemption of Operating Partnership units held by noncontrolling interests	(472)	(1,000)
Proceeds from principal payments on note receivable collateralized by OP Units	411	0
Proceeds from principal payments on note receivable collateralized by Preferred OP Units	0	8,226
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	0	68
Dividends paid on common stock	(433,591)	(349,700)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(28,584)	(25,261)
Net cash used in financing activities	(358,204)	(209,581)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	(46,728)	9,841
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of the period	128,009	70,733
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of the period	81,281	80,574
Supplemental schedule of cash flow information
Interest paid	116,937	119,977
Income taxes paid	21,365	5,181
Redemption of Operating Partnership units held by noncontrolling interests for common stock
Noncontrolling interests in Operating Partnership	(2,412)	(4,005)
Common stock and paid-in capital	2,412	4,005
Establishment of operating lease right of use assets and lease liabilities
Real estate assets - operating lease right-of-use assets	2,911	6,779
Operating lease liabilities	(2,911)	(6,779)
Acquisitions of real estate assets
Real estate assets, net	2,228	(13,833)
Investment in unconsolidated real estate ventures	(2,673)	0
Finance lease liability	445	13,833
Accrued construction costs and capital expenditures
Acquisition of real estate assets	756	676
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(756)	(676)
Redemption of Preferred Operating Partnership units for common stock
Preferred Operating Partnership units	(2,834)	(2,724)
Additional paid-in capital	2,834	2,724
Establishment of finance lease assets and lease liabilities
Real estate assets, net	41,438	8,605
Other liabilities	(41,438)	(8,605)
Investment in unconsolidated real estate ventures received on sale of stores to joint venture
Investment in unconsolidated real estate ventures	33,878	0
Real estate assets	$ (33,878)	$ 0