Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Real estate revenues:
Lease revenues	$ 573,829	$ 299,624	$ 119,296
Operating property revenues	28,913	956	925
Reimbursable tenant costs	24,862	13,314	7,468
Lease termination income and other	15,526	2,071	1,492
Total real estate revenue	643,130	315,965	129,181
Revenues from the Managed REITS:
Reimbursable costs	130,212	73,572	98,245
Structuring revenue	71,256	46,589	48,355
Asset management revenue	38,063	42,670	56,666
Dealer manager fees	23,532	10,856	19,914
Incentive, termination and subordinated disposition revenue	0	199	0
Revenues from managed REITs	263,063	173,886	223,180
Total revenues	906,193	489,851	352,361
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	237,123	121,822	44,427
Reimbursable tenant and affiliate costs	155,074	86,886	105,713
General and administrative	91,588	67,063	68,854
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	37,725	8,082	4,555
Merger and property acquisition expenses	34,465	9,230	31,639
Stock-based compensation expense	31,075	37,195	26,052
Impairment charges	23,067	5,294	0
Dealer manager fees and expenses	21,760	13,028	17,787
Subadvisor fees	5,501	4,106	464
Total operating expenses	637,378	352,706	299,491
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	(178,122)	(103,728)	(46,448)
Gain on change in control of interests	105,947	0	20,744
Equity in earnings of equity method investments in real estate and the Managed REITs	44,116	52,731	62,392
Other income and (expenses)	(11,977)	9,421	2,389
Total other income and expenses	(40,036)	(41,576)	39,077
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and gain (loss) on sale of real estate	228,779	95,569	91,947
Provision for income taxes	(17,609)	(1,252)	(6,772)
Income from continuing operations before gain (loss) on sale of real estate	211,170	94,317	85,175
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	33,318	38,180	(24,735)
Gain (loss) on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,581	(332)	2,339
Net Income	246,069	132,165	62,779
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,385)	(32,936)	(607)
Net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	142	(353)	(40)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	239,826	98,876	62,132
Basic Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 2.08	$ 1.22	$ 1.83
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 0.34	$ 0.21	$ (0.53)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 2.42	$ 1.43	$ 1.30
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 2.06	$ 1.21	$ 1.80
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 0.33	$ 0.20	$ (0.52)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 2.39	$ 1.41	$ 1.28
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding
Basic	98,764,164	68,691,046	47,389,460
Diluted	99,827,356	69,708,008	48,078,474
Amounts Attributable to W. P. Carey
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	206,329	84,637	87,571
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	33,497	14,239	(25,439)
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$ 239,826	$ 98,876	$ 62,132