Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$ 767,747	$ 801,078
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	261,687	214,660
Impairment charges	954	3,509
Early extinguishment of debt charges	0	7,538
Equity award expense	17,971	18,203
Gain on sale of properties	(30,841)	(5,697)
Gain on marketable securities, net	(542,510)	(444,646)
Gain on sale of cost method investment	0	(190,832)
Distributions from joint ventures and other investments	54,188	135,791
Change in accounts and notes receivable, net	(3,644)	(21,175)
Change in accounts payable and accrued expenses	(55,569)	42,064
Change in other operating assets and liabilities, net	11,747	(32,617)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities	417,270	465,942
Cash flow from investing activities:
Acquisition of operating real estate	(102,682)	(7,073)
Improvements to operating real estate	(112,792)	(164,366)
Improvements to real estate under development	0	(22,358)
Acquisition of Weingarten Realty Investors, net of cash acquired of $56,465	(263,973)	0
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities	339	931
Proceeds from sale of cost method investment	0	227,325
Investments in and advances to real estate joint ventures	(7,546)	(14,640)
Reimbursements of investments in and advances to real estate joint ventures	9,113	4,400
Investments in and advances to other investments	(59,504)	(5,418)
Reimbursements of investments in and advances to other investments	48,420	297
Investment in other financing receivable	(26,897)	0
Collection of mortgage loans receivable	3,742	114
Proceeds from sale of properties	154,017	21,718
Proceeds from insurance casualty claims	0	2,450
Net cash flow (used for)/provided by investing activities	(357,763)	43,380
Cash flow from financing activities:
Principal payments on debt, excluding normal amortization of rental property debt	(136,222)	(158,556)
Principal payments on rental property debt	(7,481)	(8,036)
Repayments of unsecured revolving credit facility, net	0	(200,000)
Financing origination costs	(7,017)	(17,851)
Payment of early extinguishment of debt charges	0	(7,538)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	0	109
Redemption/distribution of noncontrolling interests	(7,558)	(22,483)
Dividends paid	(270,956)	(304,320)
Proceeds from issuance of stock, net	79,433	981
Shares repurchased for employee tax withholding on equity awards	(20,787)	(5,313)
Change in tenants' security deposits	1,364	(380)
Net cash flow used for financing activities	130,776	(308,292)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	190,283	201,030
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of the period	293,188	123,947
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of the period	483,471	324,977
Interest paid during the period including payment of early extinguishment of debt charges of $0 and $7,538 (net of capitalized interest of $482 and $11,283, respectively)	122,297	128,591
Senior Unsecured Notes [Member]
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of unsecured debt	500,000	900,000
Repayments of unsecured debt	0	(484,905)
Term Loan [Member]
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of unsecured debt	0	590,000
Repayments of unsecured debt	0	(590,000)
Joint Ventures [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in income, net	(54,095)	(35,039)
Other Real Estate Investments [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in income, net	$ (10,365)	$ (26,895)