CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash Flows — Operating Activities
Net income	$ 708,264	$ 598,482	$ 410,122
Adjustments to net income:
Depreciation and amortization, including intangible assets and deferred financing costs	594,166	519,741	490,722
Gain on sale of real estate, net	(315,984)	(43,476)	(40,425)
Impairment charges — real estate	86,411	39,119	24,246
Straight-line rent adjustments	(75,435)	(57,988)	(50,565)
Stock-based compensation expense	34,504	32,841	24,881
Amortization of rent-related intangibles and deferred rental revenue	33,958	43,249	56,910
Increase (decrease) in allowance for credit losses	29,074	(24,976)	266
(Earnings) losses from equity method investments	(19,575)	(29,509)	10,829
Distributions of earnings from equity method investments	18,588	30,236	15,471
Net realized and unrealized losses (gains) on extinguishment of debt, equity securities, foreign currency exchange rate movements, and other	9,059	(76,202)	15,505
Deferred income tax benefit	(199)	(8,071)	(4,703)
Gain on change in control of interests	0	(33,931)	0
Impairment charges — Investment Management goodwill	0	29,334	0
Asset management revenue received in shares of Managed Programs	0	(1,024)	(12,528)
Net changes in other operating assets and liabilities	(29,399)	(14,269)	(14,252)
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	1,073,432	1,003,556	926,479
Cash Flows — Investing Activities
Purchases of real estate	(1,211,397)	(1,145,734)	(1,306,858)
Proceeds from sales of real estate	446,402	234,652	163,638
Funding for real estate construction, redevelopments, and other capital expenditures on real estate	(121,625)	(104,441)	(113,616)
Capital contributions to equity method investments	(38,219)	(93,416)	(107,552)
Proceeds from repayment of loans receivable	28,000	34,000	0
Other investing activities, net	(24,487)	(19,767)	(19,631)
Return of capital from equity method investments	10,484	7,102	13,955
Tenant-funded escrow for investing activities	4,959	0	0
Cash paid to stockholders of CPA:18 – Global in the CPA:18 Merger	0	(423,435)	0
Cash and restricted cash acquired in connection with the CPA:18 Merger	0	331,063	0
Proceeds from redemption of WLT preferred stock and cash exchanged for WLT common stock (Note 10)	0	147,625	0
Proceeds from repayment of short-term loans to affiliates	0	26,000	62,048
Funding of short-term loans to affiliates	0	(26,000)	(41,000)
Investments in loans receivable	0	(20,180)	(217,711)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(905,883)	(1,052,531)	(1,566,727)
Cash Flows — Financing Activities
Proceeds from Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility	2,551,578	2,079,420	2,000,639
Repayments of Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility	(2,439,754)	(2,168,392)	(1,663,869)
Dividends paid	(916,530)	(835,257)	(764,281)
Proceeds from shares issued under forward equity, net of selling costs	633,785	284,259	697,044
Proceeds from Unsecured Term Loans	542,330	283,139	0
Proceeds in connection with the Spin-Off	343,885	0	0
Scheduled payments of mortgage principal	(296,886)	(127,230)	(64,290)
Prepayments of mortgage principal	(99,844)	(10,381)	(745,124)
Payment of financing costs	(13,875)	(2,371)	(11,295)
Payments for withholding taxes upon delivery of equity-based awards	(13,679)	(6,612)	(3,822)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(3,263)	(413)	(145)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	2,886	30	0
Other financing activities, net	1,929	8,839	4,606
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Unsecured Notes	0	334,775	1,385,059
Proceeds from shares issued under our prior ATM Program, net of selling costs	0	218,081	339,968
Redemption of Senior Unsecured Notes	0	0	(617,442)
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities	292,562	57,887	557,048
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash During the Year
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	7,719	(2,721)	(10,629)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash	467,830	6,191	(93,829)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year	224,141	217,950	311,779
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year	$ 691,971	$ 224,141	$ 217,950