Schedule III Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation - Summary of Activity (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) property
Reconciliation of total real estate carrying value
Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 19,637,626,852	$ 16,566,601,986	$ 15,027,043,415
Acquisitions	2,163,707,260	3,644,884,106	1,802,745,841
Less amounts allocated to acquired lease intangible assets and liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets	(382,849,836)	(401,318,627)	(89,474,897)
Improvements, Etc.	6,194,424	17,447,145	23,043,158
Other (Leasing Costs and Building Adjustments as a result of net debt premiums) (1)	22,489,716	2,740,797	2,839,574
Total Additions	1,809,541,564	3,263,753,421	1,739,153,676
Cost of Real Estate sold	253,505,789	129,736,613	165,023,825
Cost of Equipment sold	24,799	11,200	15,650
Releasing costs	258,513	673,647	232,089
Other (including Provisions for Impairment) (2)	195,003,525	87,951,488	34,323,541
Total Deductions	448,792,626	218,372,948	199,595,105
Foreign Currency Translation	49,958,270	25,644,393	0
Balance at Close of Period	21,048,334,060	19,637,626,852	16,566,601,986
Reconciliation of accumulated depreciation
Balance at Beginning of Period	3,140,854,604	2,723,085,290	2,350,544,126
Additions During Period - Provision for Depreciation	531,908,615	481,498,979	432,482,396
Accumulated depreciation of real estate and equipment sold or disposed of	110,914,744	64,053,838	59,941,232
Foreign Currency Translation	1,329,222	324,174	0
Balance at Close of Period	$ 3,563,177,697	3,140,854,604	$ 2,723,085,290
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	6,593
Number of properties secured by mortgages | property	68
Unamortized net debt premiums on mortgages payable excluded from encumbrances	$ 1,700,000
Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes	22,741,595,516
Reclassification of right of use assets under finance leases	$ 22,500,000	$ 36,900,000
Number of properties on which provisions for impairment were recorded | property	99	51	44
U.S. | Single-client properties
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	6,503
U.S. | Corporate headquarters
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	1
U.S. | Single-client properties - Crest Net Lease
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	13
U.S. | Multi-client properties
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	34
U.K. | Single-client properties
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	39
U.K. | Multi-client properties
Other Disclosure Notes
Number of properties | property	3
Crest Net Lease, Inc
Other Disclosure Notes
Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes	$ 92,643,698