Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Real estate revenues:
Lease revenues	$ 148,253	$ 73,984	$ 271,320	$ 146,444
Reimbursable tenant costs	5,749	3,040	11,763	6,157
Operating property revenues	8,251	231	13,244	458
Lease termination income and other	14,481	402	15,479	1,082
Total real estate revenue	176,734	77,657	311,806	154,141
Revenues from the Managed REITs:
Reimbursable costs	41,925	15,467	81,657	27,435
Structuring revenue	17,254	6,422	35,005	12,764
Asset management revenue	9,045	10,355	18,822	20,369
Dealer manager fees	7,949	2,320	14,626	3,542
Revenue from affiliates	76,173	34,564	150,110	64,110
Total revenues	252,907	112,221	461,916	218,251
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	63,445	29,772	116,118	59,147
Reimbursable tenant and affiliate costs	47,674	18,507	93,420	33,592
General and administrative	19,133	14,545	41,802	31,596
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	11,209	2,282	19,627	4,047
Stock-based compensation expense	7,957	8,429	15,000	17,578
Dealer manager fees and expenses	6,285	3,163	11,710	5,126
Subadvisor fees	2,451	985	2,469	1,670
Impairment charges	2,066	0	2,066	0
Merger and acquisition expenses	1,137	3,128	30,751	3,249
Total operating expenses	161,357	80,811	332,963	156,005
Other Income and Expenses
Net income from equity investments in real estate and the Managed REITs	9,452	32,541	23,714	43,197
Gain on change in control of interests	0	0	104,645	0
Interest expense	(47,733)	(25,750)	(86,808)	(51,334)
Other income and (expenses)	(883)	2,450	(6,335)	3,849
Total other income and expenses	(39,164)	9,241	35,216	(4,288)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	52,386	40,651	164,169	57,958
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes	(8,053)	1,134	(10,293)	2,341
Income from continuing operations before loss on sale of real estate	44,333	41,785	153,876	60,299
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	26,460	4,364	32,853	1,688
Loss on sale of real estate, net of tax	(3,821)	(333)	(3,742)	(332)
Net Income	66,972	45,816	182,987	61,655
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,344)	(2,692)	(3,921)	(4,400)
Net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	111	43	(151)	93
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	64,739	43,167	178,915	57,348
Basic Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.57	$ 1.53	$ 0.81
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to W. P. Carey (in dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.06	$ 0.35	$ 0.02
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.63	$ 1.88	$ 0.83
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.56	$ 1.52	$ 0.80
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to W. P. Carey (in dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ 0.06	$ 0.34	$ 0.01
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey (in dollars per share)	$ 0.64	$ 0.62	$ 1.86	$ 0.81
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic (in shares)	100,236,362	68,406,771	94,855,067	68,776,108
Diluted (in shares)	100,995,225	69,493,902	95,857,916	69,870,849
Amounts Attributable to W. P. Carey
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	38,236	39,133	145,884	56,268
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	26,503	4,034	33,031	1,080
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 64,739	$ 43,167	$ 178,915	$ 57,348
Distributions Declared Per Share	$ 0.900	$ 0.840	$ 1.795	$ 1.660