CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$ 396,506	$ 437,478	$ 364,598
Adjustments to net income:
Depreciation and amortization	677,038	593,961	539,780
Loss on extinguishment of debt	9,819	0	0
Amortization of share-based compensation	16,503	13,662	27,267
Non-cash revenue adjustments	(3,562)	(9,338)	(7,835)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	11,003	9,795	9,021
Loss (gain) on interest rate swaps	4,353	2,752	(2,733)
Foreign currency and derivative gains, net	(4,585)	(2,255)	0
Gain on sales of real estate	(76,232)	(29,996)	(24,643)
Provisions for impairment on real estate	147,232	40,186	26,269
Change in assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable and other assets	(79,240)	(8,954)	(6,901)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	19,720	24,056	18,695
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,115,543	1,068,937	940,742
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in real estate	(2,283,130)	(3,572,581)	(1,769,335)
Improvements to real estate, including leasing costs	(8,708)	(23,536)	(25,350)
Proceeds from sales of real estate	259,459	108,911	142,286
Insurance and other proceeds received	0	0	7,648
Collection of loans receivable	0	0	5,267
Non-refundable escrow deposits	0	(14,603)	(200)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,032,379)	(3,501,809)	(1,639,684)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Cash distributions to common stockholders	(964,167)	(852,134)	(761,582)
Borrowings on line of credit and commercial paper program	3,528,042	2,816,632	1,774,000
Payments on line of credit and commercial paper program	(4,246,755)	(2,365,368)	(1,632,000)
Principal payment on term loan	(250,000)	(70,000)	(125,866)
Proceeds from notes and bonds payable issued	2,200,488	897,664	497,500
Principal payment on notes payable	(250,000)	0	(350,000)
Proceeds from term loan	0	0	250,000
Payments upon extinguishment of debt	(9,445)	0	0
Principal payments on mortgages payable	(108,789)	(20,723)	(21,905)
Proceeds from common stock offerings, net	728,883	845,061	0
Proceeds from dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan	9,109	8,437	9,114
Proceeds from At-the-Market (ATM) program	1,094,938	1,264,518	1,125,364
Redemption of common units	0	(21,123)	(2,752)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(1,596)	(1,342)	(1,930)
Net receipts on derivative settlements	4,106	4,881	0
Debt issuance costs	(19,456)	(9,129)	(18,685)
Other items, including shares withheld upon vesting	(23,279)	(4,772)	(33,387)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,692,079	2,492,602	707,871
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	4,431	(9,796)	0
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	779,674	49,934	8,929
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year	71,005	21,071	12,142
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year	850,679	71,005	21,071
Mortgages payable
Adjustments to net income:
Amortization of net premiums on mortgages and notes payable	(1,258)	(1,415)	(1,520)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Principal payments on mortgages payable	(108,800)	(20,700)
Notes payable
Adjustments to net income:
Amortization of net premiums on mortgages and notes payable	$ (1,754)	$ (995)	$ (1,256)