Schedule III Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation - Summary of Activity (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) property	Jan. 01, 2019 USD ($)
Reconciliation of total real estate carrying value
Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 16,566,601,986	$ 15,027,043,415	$ 13,904,519,436
Acquisitions	3,644,884,106	1,802,745,841	1,531,960,811
Less amounts allocated to acquired lease intangible assets and liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets	(401,318,627)	(89,474,897)	(238,556,294)
Improvements, Etc.	17,447,145	23,043,158	11,067,322
Other (Leasing Costs and Building Adjustments as a result of net debt premiums)	2,740,797	2,839,574	1,584,152
Total Additions	3,263,753,421	1,739,153,676	1,306,055,991
Cost of Real Estate sold	129,736,613	165,023,825	150,394,756
Cost of Equipment sold	11,200	15,650	0
Releasing costs	673,647	232,089	109,986
Other (including Provisions for Impairment)	87,951,488	34,323,541	33,027,270
Total Deductions	218,372,948	199,595,105	183,532,012
Foreign Currency Translation	25,644,393	0	0
Balance at Close of Period	19,637,626,852	16,566,601,986	15,027,043,415
Reconciliation of accumulated depreciation
Balance at Beginning of Period	2,723,085,290	2,350,544,126	2,000,728,517
Additions During Period - Provision for Depreciation	481,498,979	432,482,396	393,415,491
Accumulated depreciation of real estate and equipment sold or disposed of	64,053,838	59,941,232	43,599,882
Foreign Currency Translation	324,174	0	0
Balance at Close of Period	$ 3,140,854,604	$ 2,723,085,290	$ 2,350,544,126
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	6,484
Number of properties secured by mortgages | property	92
Unamortized net debt premiums on mortgages payable excluded from encumbrances	$ 3,000,000
Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes	$ 20,070,200,483
Reclassification of right of use assets under finance leases				$ 36,900,000
Number of properties on which provisions for impairment were recorded | property	51	44	26
U.S. | Single-tenant properties
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	6,417
U.S. | Corporate headquarters
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	1
U.S. | Crest Net Lease properties
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	17
U.S. | Multi-tenant properties
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	31
U.K. | Single-tenant properties
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	18
Crest Net Lease, Inc
Other Disclosure Notes
Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes	$ 73,548,861