Goodwill and Other Intangibles - Goodwill Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Goodwill
Balance - beginning of period	$ 681,809	$ 692,415	$ 350,208
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(1,293)	(10,548)	(14,258)
Other business combinations		1,704	13,585
Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held for sale	(34,405)	(1,762)	(3,762)
Impairment charges (Note 9)	(10,191)
Balance - end of period	635,920	681,809	692,415
CPA: 16 - Global
Goodwill
Acquisition of investment accounted for as business combination			346,642
Real Estate Ownership
Goodwill
Balance - beginning of period	618,202	628,808	286,601
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(1,293)	(10,548)	(14,258)
Other business combinations		1,704	13,585
Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held for sale	(34,405)	(1,762)	(3,762)
Impairment charges (Note 9)	(10,191)
Balance - end of period	572,313	618,202	628,808
Real Estate Ownership \| CPA: 16 - Global
Goodwill
Acquisition of investment accounted for as business combination			346,642
Investment Management
Goodwill
Balance - beginning of period	63,607	63,607	63,607
Balance - end of period	$ 63,607	$ 63,607	$ 63,607

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

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Amount of divestiture of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

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