Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In-Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Treasury Stock	Total CPA:17 - Global Stockholders	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,731,324	$ 208	$ 1,863,227	$ (148,034)	$ (38,150)	$ (17,104)	$ 1,660,147	$ 71,177
Beginning equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2011		206,148,818
Shares issued, net of offering costs, shares		100,529,436
Shares issued, net of offering costs, value	903,229	100	903,129				903,229
Shares issued to affiliates, shares		2,043,451
Shares issued to affiliates, value	20,501	2	20,499				20,501
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	762						0	762
Distributions declared ($0.6500 per share)	(161,773)			(161,773)			(161,773)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(24,427)						0	(24,427)
Net income	70,094			43,596			43,596	26,498
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	11,816				11,625		11,625	191
Change in net unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	(15,744)				(16,109)		(16,109)	365
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	1,035				1,035		1,035
Repurchase of shares, shares		(1,818,685)
Repurchase of shares, value	(17,189)					(17,189)	(17,189)
Ending equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2012	2,519,628	310	2,786,855	(266,211)	(41,599)	(34,293)	2,445,062	74,566
Ending equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2012		306,903,020
Shares issued, net of offering costs, shares		10,252,652
Shares issued, net of offering costs, value	96,853	11	96,842				96,853
Shares issued to affiliates, shares		2,116,767
Shares issued to affiliates, value	21,232	2	21,230				21,232
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	0						0
Distributions declared ($0.6500 per share)	(203,598)			(203,598)			(203,598)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(26,760)						0	(26,760)
Net income	67,649			38,714			38,714	28,935
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	25,742				25,530		25,530	212
Change in net unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	3,068				2,533		2,533	535
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	94				94		94
Repurchase of shares, shares		(1,918,540)
Repurchase of shares, value	(18,184)					(18,184)	(18,184)
Ending equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2013	2,485,724	323	2,904,927	(431,095)	(13,442)	(52,477)	2,408,236	77,488
Ending equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2013	317,353,899	317,353,899
Shares issued, net of offering costs, shares		11,168,340
Shares issued, net of offering costs, value	101,983	11	101,972				101,983
Shares issued to affiliates, shares		2,756,965
Shares issued to affiliates, value	26,387	3	26,384				26,387
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	0						0
Distributions declared ($0.6500 per share)	(210,862)			(210,862)			(210,862)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(30,776)						0	(30,776)
Net income	106,993			74,151			74,151	32,842
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(93,401)				(91,878)		(91,878)	(1,523)
Change in net unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments	24,439				24,028		24,028	411
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	285				285		285
Repurchase of shares, shares		(2,798,365)
Repurchase of shares, value	(25,375)					(25,375)	(25,375)
Ending equity balance, value at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 2,385,397	$ 337	$ 3,033,283	$ (567,806)	$ (81,007)	$ (77,852)	$ 2,306,955	$ 78,442
Ending equity balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014	328,480,839	328,480,839