CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 437,478	$ 364,598	$ 319,318
Adjustments to net income:
Depreciation and amortization	593,961	539,780	498,788
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	42,426
Amortization of share-based compensation	13,662	27,267	13,946
Non-cash revenue adjustments	(9,338)	(7,835)	(3,927)
Amortization of net premiums on mortgages payable	(1,415)	(1,520)	(466)
Amortization of net (premiums) discounts on notes payable	(995)	(1,256)	884
Amortization of deferred financing costs	9,795	9,021	8,274
Loss (gain) on interest rate swaps	2,752	(2,733)	(3,250)
Foreign currency and derivative gains, net	(2,255)	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate	(29,996)	(24,643)	(40,898)
Provisions for impairment on real estate	40,186	26,269	14,751
Change in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable and other assets	(8,954)	(6,901)	(92)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	24,056	18,695	26,096
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,068,937	940,742	875,850
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in real estate	(3,572,581)	(1,769,335)	(1,413,270)
Improvements to real estate, including leasing costs	(23,536)	(25,350)	(15,247)
Proceeds from sales of real estate	108,911	142,286	166,976
Insurance and other proceeds received	0	7,648	14,411
Collection of loans receivable	0	5,267	123
Non-refundable escrow deposits	(14,603)	(200)	(7,500)
Net cash used in investing activities	(3,501,809)	(1,639,684)	(1,254,507)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash distributions to common stockholders	(852,134)	(761,582)	(689,294)
Cash dividends to preferred stockholders	0	0	(6,168)
Borrowings on line of credit	2,816,632	1,774,000	1,465,000
Payments on line of credit	(2,365,368)	(1,632,000)	(2,475,000)
Principal payment on term loan	(70,000)	(125,866)	0
Proceeds from notes and bonds payable issued	897,664	497,500	2,033,041
Principal payment on notes payable	0	(350,000)	(725,000)
Proceeds from term loan	0	250,000	0
Payments upon extinguishment of debt	0	0	(41,643)
Principal payments on mortgages payable	(20,723)	(21,905)	(139,725)
Redemption of preferred stock	0	0	(408,750)
Proceeds from common stock offerings, net	845,061	0	704,938
Proceeds from dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan	8,437	9,114	69,931
Proceeds from At-the-Market (ATM) program	1,264,518	1,125,364	621,697
Redemption of common units	(21,123)	(2,752)	0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,342)	(1,930)	(2,043)
Net receipts on derivative settlements	4,881	0	0
Debt issuance costs	(9,129)	(18,685)	(17,510)
Other items, including shares withheld upon vesting	(4,772)	(33,387)	(14,356)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,492,602	707,871	375,118
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(9,796)	0	0
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	49,934	8,929	(3,539)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	21,071	12,142	15,681
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$ 71,005	$ 21,071	$ 12,142