Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating activities:
Net income		$ 1,038,852	$ 1,330,410	$ 829,750
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,038,437	1,027,073	950,459
Other amortization expenses		13,213	16,827	17,000
Provision for loan losses		94,436	18,690	0
Impairment of assets		135,608	28,133	115,579
Stock-based compensation expense		28,318	25,047	27,646
Loss (gain) on derivatives and financial instruments, net		11,049	(4,399)	(4,016)
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of debt, net		47,049	84,155	16,097
Loss (income) from unconsolidated entities		8,083	(42,434)	641
Rental income less than ( in excess of) cash received		60,254	(106,331)	(32,857)
Amortization related to above (below) market leases, net		(1,870)	(676)	2,608
Loss (gain) on real estate dispositions, net		(1,088,455)	(748,041)	(415,575)
Distributions by unconsolidated entities		11,601	0	21
Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses and other liabilities		22,764	(29,068)	70,762
Decrease (increase) in receivables and other assets		(54,583)	(63,418)	5,829
Net cash provided from (used in) operating activities		1,364,756	1,535,968	1,583,944
Investing activities:
Cash disbursed for acquisitions, net of cash acquired		(903,756)	(3,959,683)	(3,560,360)
Cash disbursed for capital improvements to existing properties		(244,989)	(328,824)	(266,183)
Cash disbursed for construction in progress		(201,336)	(323,488)	(160,706)
Capitalized interest		(17,472)	(15,272)	(7,905)
Investment in loans receivable		(247,543)	(119,699)	(112,048)
Principal collected on loans receivable		31,548	127,706	203,935
Other investments, net of payments		7,726	(8,282)	(44,535)
Contributions to unconsolidated entities		(411,154)	(279,631)	(136,854)
Distributions by unconsolidated entities		48,195	216,231	90,916
Proceeds from (payments on) derivatives				65,399
Proceeds from (payments on) derivatives		(13,319)	(8,499)
Proceeds from sales of real property		4,300,028	2,650,650	1,541,870
Net cash provided from (used in) investing activities		2,347,928	(2,048,791)	(2,386,471)
Financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) under unsecured credit facility and commercial paper		(1,587,597)
Net increase (decrease) under unsecured credit facility and commercial paper			440,597	428,000
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes		1,588,549	3,974,559	2,824,176
Payments to extinguish senior unsecured notes		(566,248)	(3,335,290)	(1,450,000)
Net proceeds from the issuance of secured debt		62,055	343,696	45,447
Payments on secured debt		(694,995)	(284,433)	(362,841)
Net proceeds from the issuance of common stock		595,313	1,056,125	789,575
Repurchase of common stock		(7,656)	0	0
Payments for deferred financing costs and prepayment penalties		(39,087)	(84,142)	(29,691)
Contributions by noncontrolling interests	[1]	44,023	55,365	39,207
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	[1]	(333,489)	(172,940)	(109,871)
Cash distributions to stockholders		(1,119,232)	(1,400,712)	(1,348,863)
Other financing activities		(22,494)	(15,675)	(6,771)
Net cash provided from (used in) financing activities		(2,080,858)	577,150	818,368
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash		3,451	5,310	(9,015)
Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		1,635,277	69,637	6,826
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		385,766	316,129	309,303
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		2,021,043	385,766	316,129
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid		508,454	574,536	501,404
Income taxes paid		$ 13,671	$ 14,338	$ 2,250

[1] Includes amounts attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests.