MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended																		3 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 GGP Capital Trust I	Dec. 31, 2006 GGP Capital Trust I	Mar. 31, 2013 Collateralized mortgages, notes and loans payable item	Dec. 31, 2012 Collateralized mortgages, notes and loans payable	May 01, 2013 Corporate and other unsecured term loans	Mar. 31, 2013 Corporate and other unsecured term loans	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate and other unsecured term loans	Mar. 31, 2013 Junior Subordinated Notes due 2041	Dec. 31, 2012 Junior Subordinated Notes due 2041	Mar. 31, 2013 Original Loan Willowbrook Mall	Mar. 31, 2013 Original Loan Pembroke Lakes Mall	Mar. 31, 2013 Original Loan Valley Plaza Mall	Mar. 31, 2013 New Loan Willowbrook Mall	Mar. 31, 2013 New Loan Pembroke Lakes Mall	Mar. 31, 2013 New Loan Valley Plaza Mall	Mar. 31, 2013 Bonds payable	Dec. 31, 2012 Bonds payable	Mar. 31, 2013 TRCLLC Bonds - 2010 Indenture	Dec. 31, 2012 TRCLLC Bonds - 2010 Indenture	Mar. 31, 2013 Arizona Two (HHC)	Dec. 31, 2012 Arizona Two (HHC)	Dec. 31, 2012 TRCLLC Bonds - 1995 Indenture one	Mar. 31, 2013 5.38% notes due November 26, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013 5.38% notes due November 26, 2013 TRCLLC Redemption of debt	Feb. 14, 2013 5.38% notes due November 26, 2013 TRCLLC Redemption of debt	Mar. 31, 2013 6.75% notes due November 9, 2015	Mar. 31, 2013 6.75% notes due November 9, 2015 TRCLLC Subsequent event Redemption of debt	Apr. 02, 2013 6.75% notes due November 9, 2015 TRCLLC Subsequent event Redemption of debt	Mar. 31, 2013 Revolving credit facility, (the "Facility")	Jan. 28, 2013 Revolving credit facility, (the "Facility") Debt issuance	Mar. 31, 2013 Revolving credit facility, (the "Facility") Minimum	Mar. 31, 2013 Revolving credit facility, (the "Facility") Maximum
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Fixed-rate debt	$ 15,254,834,000	$ 14,954,601,000			$ 14,620,117,000	$ 14,225,011,000		$ 634,717,000	$ 729,590,000																		$ 91,800,000			$ 608,700,000
Variable-rate debt	980,532,000	1,012,265,000			980,532,000	1,012,265,000
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable	16,235,366,000	15,966,866,000
Long-term debt					15,600,000,000					206,200,000	206,200,000	146,500,000	119,000,000	86,000,000	360,000,000	260,000,000	240,000,000	626,518,000	719,821,000	608,688,000	608,688,000	17,830,000	19,347,000	91,786,000
Weighted-average fixed interest rate (as a percent)	4.81%	4.96%			4.73%	4.88%		6.68%	6.51%																5.38%			6.75%
Weighted-average variable interest rate (as a percent)					3.41%	3.42%				1.75%	1.76%
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)	4.72%	4.86%
Market rate adjustment excluded from corporate and other unsecured loans	(21,000,000)	(23,300,000)																8,200,000
Land, buildings and equipment and developments in progress (before accumulated depreciation) pledged as collateral					21,500,000,000
Secured debt, cross-collateralized with other properties					2,100,000,000
Amount of recourse fixed and variable rate debt					657,300,000
Number of mortgage notes refinanced					6
Value of mortgage notes refinanced					1,200,000,000
Proceeds from mortgage loans refinanced					635,900,000
Amount repaid					100,200,000		608,700,000	91,800,000
Interest rate (as a percent)												6.82%	4.94%	3.90%	3.55%	3.56%	3.75%	6.68%	6.51%	6.75%	6.75%	4.41%	4.41%	5.38%					6.75%
Cash proceeds in excess of in-place financing															213,500,000	141,000,000	154,000,000
Debt extinguishment costs																										3,500,000			20,500,000
Maximum borrowing capacity																															1,000,000,000
Uncommitted accordion feature																															1,250,000,000
Variable rate basis	LIBOR		LIBOR																												LIBOR
Basis spread on variable rate (as a percent)																																	2.00%	2.75%
Amounts outstanding	0
Additional borrowing																																400,000,000
Issuance of trust preferred securities				200,000,000
Common securities issued to GGLP				6,200,000
Purchase of Junior Subordinated Notes				206,200,000
Trust Preferred Securities, basis spread on variable rate			1.45%
Outstanding letter of credit and surety bonds	$ 22,200,000	$ 21,700,000