Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Revenues
Revenues from rental properties, net		$ 1,349,702	$ 1,044,888	$ 1,142,334
Management and other fee income		14,883	13,005	16,550
Total revenues		1,364,585	1,057,893	1,158,884
Operating expenses
Rent		(13,773)	(11,270)	(11,311)
Real estate taxes		(181,256)	(157,661)	(153,659)
Operating and maintenance		(222,882)	(174,038)	(171,981)
General and administrative		(104,121)	(93,217)	(96,942)
Impairment charges		3,597	6,624	48,743
Merger charges		(50,191)	0	0
Depreciation and amortization		(395,320)	(288,955)	(277,879)
Total operating expenses		(971,140)	(731,765)	(760,515)
Gain on sale of properties		30,841	6,484	79,218
Operating income		424,286	332,612	477,587
Other income/(expense)
Other income, net		19,810	4,119	10,985
Gain on marketable securities, net		505,163	594,753	829
Gain on sale of cost method investment		0	190,832	0
Interest expense		(204,133)	(186,904)	(177,395)
Early extinguishment of debt charges		0	(7,538)	0
Income before income taxes, net, equity in income of joint ventures, net, and equity in income from other investments, net		745,126	927,874	312,006
(Provision)/benefit for income taxes, net		(3,380)	(978)	3,317
Net income		849,696	1,002,877	413,561
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(5,637)	(2,044)	(2,956)
Net income attributable to the Company		844,059	1,000,833	410,605
Preferred stock redemption charges		0	0	(18,528)
Preferred dividends		(25,416)	(25,416)	(52,089)
Net income available to the Company's common shareholders		$ 818,643	$ 975,417	$ 339,988
Per common share:
-Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 1.61	$ 2.26	$ 0.80
-Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 1.60	$ 2.25	$ 0.80
Weighted average shares:
-Basic (in shares)		506,248	429,950	420,370
-Diluted (in shares)	[1]	511,385	431,633	421,799
Joint Ventures [Member]
Other income/(expense)
Equity in income, net		$ 84,778	$ 47,353	$ 72,162
Other Real Estate Investments [Member]
Other income/(expense)
Equity in income, net		$ 23,172	$ 28,628	$ 26,076

[1] The effect of the assumed conversion of certain convertible units had an anti-dilutive effect upon the calculation of Net income/(loss) available to the Company’s common shareholders per share. Accordingly, the impact of such conversions has not been included in the determination of diluted earnings per share calculations. Additionally, there were 0.5 million and 1.2 million stock options that were not dilutive as of September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and 2.5 million shares of restricted stock that were not dilutive for the three months ended September 30, 2020.