CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED) (Parentheticals) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Assets
Real estate at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	$ 2,428,006	$ 2,402,315
Operating real estate, at cost	271,736	283,370
Accumulated depreciation attributable to VIEs	174,263	144,405
Real estate under construction attributable to consolidated VIEs	132,763	127,935
Net investments in direct financing leases	485,090	479,916
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to VIEs	358,200	418,108
In-place lease intangible assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	445,691	457,244
Other assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	179,959	170,866
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	1,940,848	1,915,601
Accounts payable attributable to consolidated VIEs	142,035	132,254
Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, attributable to VIEs	103,338	102,597
CPA:17 Global shareholders' equity:
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
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	329,709,891	322,918,083
Common stock shares outstanding	322,963,325	317,353,899
Treasury Stock Shares	6,746,566	5,564,184
Variable Interest Entity Primary Beneficiary Member
Assets
Real estate at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	119,238	150,378
Operating real estate, at cost	0	12,557
Accumulated depreciation attributable to VIEs	8,495	8,235
Real estate under construction attributable to consolidated VIEs	19,328	25,268
Net investments in direct financing leases	244,974	244,084
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to VIEs	57	339
In-place lease intangible assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	16,808	17,277
Other assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	15,392	17,118
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	196,401	199,315
Accounts payable attributable to consolidated VIEs	10,122	8,833
Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, attributable to VIEs	$ 376	$ 387