CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (Parentheticals) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets
Real estate at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	$ 2,417,710	$ 2,402,315
Operating real estate, at cost	299,044	283,370
Accumulated depreciation attributable to VIEs	160,626	144,405
Real estate under construction attributable to consolidated VIEs	141,129	127,935
Net investments in direct financing leases	480,645	479,916
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to VIEs	287,538	418,108
In-place lease intangible assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	455,713	457,244
Other assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	193,346	170,866
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	1,944,010	1,915,601
Accounts payable attributable to consolidated VIEs	137,095	132,254
Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, attributable to VIEs	104,829	102,597
CPA:17 Global shareholders equity [Abstract]
Common stock, par or stated value per share	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Common stock shares authorized	900,000,000	900,000,000
Common Stock Shares Issued	326,206,487	322,918,083
Common stock shares outstanding	320,249,834	317,353,899
Treasury Stock Shares	5,956,653	5,564,184
Preferred stock, par or stated value per share	$ 0.001	$ 0.001
Preferred stock shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred Stock Shares Issued	0	0
Variable Interest Entity Primary Beneficiary Member
Assets
Real estate at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	150,378	150,378
Operating real estate, at cost	12,557	12,557
Accumulated depreciation attributable to VIEs	9,209	8,235
Real estate under construction attributable to consolidated VIEs	26,497	25,268
Net investments in direct financing leases	244,571	244,084
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to VIEs	282	339
In-place lease intangible assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	17,043	17,277
Other assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	19,850	17,118
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	197,857	199,315
Accounts payable attributable to consolidated VIEs	10,237	8,833
Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, attributable to VIEs	$ 382	$ 387