Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 1,883,119	$ 781,603	$ (368,743)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash generated from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	794,404	694,971	586,041
Amortization of leasehold interests in land included in rental expense	43,366	41,302	27,011
Amortization of deferred financing costs and original issue discount	47,188	41,594	30,015
Amortization of deferred gain and rent	(8,418)	(5,160)	(5,161)
Non-cash change in deferred proceeds from sale of The Shoppes at The Palazzo	1,513
Loss on modification or early retirement of debt	19,595	3,756	23,248
Impairment and loss on disposal of assets	10,203	54,612	178,669
Stock-based compensation expense	62,714	58,021	45,545
Provision for doubtful accounts	150,456	97,762	103,802
Foreign exchange (gain) loss	(176)	6,819	(499)
Deferred income taxes	90,927	99,536	(1,339)
Non-cash legal settlement included in corporate expense			30,000
Non-cash contribution from Principal Stockholder included in corporate expense		412	519
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(789,163)	(332,924)	(178,746)
Inventories	(2,841)	(4,941)	1,759
Prepaid expenses and other	13,354	(17,024)	41,994
Leasehold interests in land	(43,327)	(50,810)	(117,314)
Accounts payable	(9,565)	29,270	11,388
Accrued interest payable	(10,917)	23,091	3,257
Income taxes payable	111,920
Other accrued liabilities	298,144	348,261	227,167
Net cash generated from operating activities	2,662,496	1,870,151	638,613
Cash flows from investing activities:
Change in restricted cash and cash equivalents	804,394	(688,266)	78,630
Capital expenditures	(1,508,493)	(2,023,981)	(2,092,896)
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment	6,093	49,735	4,203
Acquisition of intangible assets	(100)	(45,303)
Purchases of investments		(173,774)
Proceeds from investments		173,774
Net cash used in investing activities	(698,106)	(2,707,815)	(2,010,063)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	25,505	16,455	51
Proceeds from exercise of warrants	12,512	225,514
Proceeds from sale of and contribution from noncontrolling interest, net of transaction costs			2,386,428
Dividends paid to preferred stockholders	(75,297)	(93,400)	(94,697)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(10,388)
Proceeds from long-term debt (Note 9)	3,201,535	1,397,293	1,831,528
Repayments of long-term debt (Note 9)	(3,300,310)	(2,600,875)	(776,972)
Repurchase and redemption of preferred stock	(845,321)
Payments of Preferred stock inducement premium	(16,871)	(6,579)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(84,826)	(65,965)	(40,365)
Net cash generated from (used in) financing activities	(1,093,461)	(1,127,557)	3,305,973
Effect of exchange rate on cash	(5,292)	46,886	(17,270)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	865,637	(1,918,335)	1,917,253
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	3,037,081	4,955,416	3,038,163
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	3,902,718	3,037,081	4,955,416
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	246,783	237,232	287,553
Cash payments for taxes, net of refunds	(5,423)	1,285	(69,005)
Changes in construction payables	(157,072)	(261,790)	42,058
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Capitalized stock-based compensation on costs	576	2,797	3,509
Property and equipment acquired under capital lease		3,431	25,567
Accumulated but undeclared dividend requirement		6,854	6,854
Accretion to redemption value of preferred stock issued to Principal Stockholder's family	80,975	92,545	92,545
Acquisition of remaining shares of noncontrolling interest		2,345
Disposition of interest in majority owned subsidiary, non-cash	829
Warrants exercised and settled through tendering of preferred stock	68,380	27,251	63,459
Property and equipment transferred to leasehold interest in land as part of lease transaction		107,879
Exchange of exchangeable bonds for ordinary shares of a subsidiary's common stock			$ 600,000