Revisions of Previously - Issued Financial Statements (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Common stock shares outstanding	328,480,839	317,353,899
Total equity	$ 2,385,397	$ 2,485,724	$ 2,519,628	$ 1,731,324
Common Stock
Common stock shares outstanding	328,480,839	317,353,899	306,903,020	206,148,818
Total equity	337	323	310	208
Additional Paid-In-Capital
Total equity	3,033,283	2,904,927	2,786,855	1,863,227
Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings
Total equity	(567,806)	(431,095)	(266,211)	(148,034)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Total equity	(81,007)	(13,442)	(41,599)	(38,150)
Treasury Stock
Total equity	(77,852)	(52,477)	(34,293)	(17,104)
Total CPA:17 - Global Stockholders
Total equity	2,306,955	2,408,236	2,445,062	1,660,147
Noncontrolling Interest
Total equity	78,442	77,488	74,566	71,177
As Reported
Total equity		2,485,298		1,727,972
As Reported | Common Stock
Common stock shares outstanding				206,148,818
Total equity				208
As Reported | Additional Paid-In-Capital
Total equity				1,863,227
As Reported | Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings
Total equity				(156,549)
As Reported | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Total equity				(32,601)
As Reported | Treasury Stock
Total equity				(17,104)
As Reported | Total CPA:17 - Global Stockholders
Total equity				1,657,181
As Reported | Noncontrolling Interest
Total equity				70,791
Revisions
Total equity		426		3,352
Revisions | Common Stock
Common stock shares outstanding				0
Total equity				0
Revisions | Additional Paid-In-Capital
Total equity				0
Revisions | Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings
Total equity				8,515
Revisions | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Total equity				(5,549)
Revisions | Treasury Stock
Total equity				0
Revisions | Total CPA:17 - Global Stockholders
Total equity				2,966
Revisions | Noncontrolling Interest
Total equity				$ 386