Statement of Earnings (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues
Rental income	$ 177,161	$ 124,425	$ 52,233
Interest income from direct financing leases	53,549	48,474	40,028
Total lease revenues	230,710	172,899	92,261
Other operating income	5,188	2,880	1,440
Other interest income	9,042	6,602	3,545
Other real estate income	49,103	13,740	2,217
Gross Revenues	294,043	196,121	99,463
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	(69,605)	(43,599)	(14,528)
General and administrative	(29,716)	(16,585)	(5,256)
Property expenses	(31,342)	(19,206)	(6,991)
Other real estate expenses	(33,701)	(8,009)	(1,327)
Impairment charges	(2,019)	70	0
Costs And Expenses	(166,383)	(87,329)	(28,102)
Other Income and Expenses
Income (loss) from equity investments in real estate	7,828	5,527	1,675
Other income and (expenses)	4,516	6,983	794
Gain on sale of real estate	1,092	0	0
Interest expense	(72,651)	(51,369)	(27,860)
Nonoperating income expense	(59,215)	(38,859)	(25,391)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	68,445	69,933	45,970
Provision from income taxes	(1,116)	(1,042)	(214)
Income from continuing operations	67,329	68,891	45,756
Discontinued Operations
Income from operations of discontinued properties	84	777	31
Gain on sale of real estate	740	778	0
Income from discontinued operations	824	1,555	31
Net Income	68,153	70,446	45,787
Net income loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(26,542)	(20,791)	(15,333)
Net income attributable to CPA 17 - Global stockholders	41,611	49,655	30,454
Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to CPA 17 Global shareholders	$ 0.17	$ 0.27	$ 0.27
Income from discontinuing operations attributable to CPA 17 Global shareholders	$ 0	$ 0.01	$ 0
Net income attributable to CPA 17 shareholders	$ 0.17	$ 0.28	$ 0.27
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding	249,283,354	175,271,595	110,882,448
Amounts Attributable To CPA 17 Global Shareholders
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	40,787	48,100	30,423
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	824	1,555	31
Net income attributable to CPA 17 - Global stockholders	$ 41,611	$ 49,655	$ 30,454
Annual Distributions Declared Per Share	$ 0.6500	$ 0.6475	$ 0.6400