Business Segments - Segment Reporting, Reconciliation of Revenues, Operating Income and Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 620,115	$ 704,565	$ 602,155	$ 606,300	$ 643,201	$ 580,622	$ 510,404	$ 462,847	$ 2,533,135	$ 2,197,074	$ 1,760,787
Consolidated net earnings	164,208	$ 232,624	$ 142,348	$ 129,198	105,551	$ 103,392	$ 87,348	$ 83,881	668,378	380,172	319,808
General and administrative expenses									222,067	217,227	229,332
Depreciation and amortization expenses									930,985	880,373	642,461
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net									206,307	159,262	134,288
Interest expense									(303,146)	(301,363)	(308,885)
Interest and other income, net									8,101	25,484	25,768
Gains on dispositions of investments in real estate and revaluation of equity investments upon acquisition of a controlling interest, net									757,398	758,887	725,790
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses), net									7,582	12,466	(17,841)
Gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, net									2,484	(86,303)	(165,300)
Earnings before income taxes									1,347,104	948,605	713,628
Total assets	30,249,932				31,394,767				30,249,932	31,394,767
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	4,230,429				4,755,620				4,230,429	4,755,620
Assets held for sale or contribution	322,139				378,423				322,139	378,423
Notes receivable backed by real estate	32,100				235,050				32,100	235,050
Cash and cash equivalents	807,316				264,080				807,316	264,080	350,692	$ 491,129
Other assets	1,496,990				1,514,510				1,496,990	1,514,510
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									2,533,135	2,197,074	1,760,787
Consolidated net earnings									1,821,430	1,477,772	1,191,601
Total assets	24,614,975				25,470,558				24,614,975	25,470,558
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									2,238,583	1,986,712	1,540,916
Consolidated net earnings									1,655,384	1,375,832	1,087,160
Total assets	24,547,949				25,399,230				24,547,949	25,399,230
Operating Segments [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									294,552	210,362	219,871
Consolidated net earnings									166,046	101,940	104,441
Total assets	67,026				71,328				67,026	71,328
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									2,040,308	1,801,858	1,306,194
Consolidated net earnings									1,520,571	1,256,188	932,151
Total assets	21,286,422				22,030,457				21,286,422	22,030,457
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									39,360	39,396	84,178
Consolidated net earnings									(1,622)	(1,925)	38,101
Total assets	18,090				19,363				18,090	19,363
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Americas [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									58,541	57,535	97,370
Consolidated net earnings									38,136	38,280	69,120
Total assets	978,476				919,381				978,476	919,381
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Americas [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									22,777	22,288	10,990
Consolidated net earnings									12,755	13,277	1,911
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									76,759	69,527	74,413
Consolidated net earnings									55,563	39,672	40,627
Total assets	1,346,589				1,291,991				1,346,589	1,291,991
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									185,495	112,793	86,549
Consolidated net earnings									142,975	86,264	56,869
Total assets	47,635				49,960				47,635	49,960
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									62,975	57,792	62,939
Consolidated net earnings									41,114	41,692	45,262
Total assets	936,462				1,157,401				936,462	1,157,401
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues									46,920	35,885	38,154
Consolidated net earnings									11,938	4,324	7,560
Total assets	1,301				2,005				1,301	2,005
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Consolidated net earnings									668,378	380,172	319,808
General and administrative expenses									222,067	217,227	229,332
Depreciation and amortization expenses									930,985	880,373	642,461
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net									206,307	159,262	134,288
Interest expense									(303,146)	(301,363)	(308,885)
Interest and other income, net									8,101	25,484	25,768
Gains on dispositions of investments in real estate and revaluation of equity investments upon acquisition of a controlling interest, net									757,398	758,887	725,790
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses), net									7,582	12,466	(17,841)
Gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, net									2,484	(86,303)	$ (165,300)
Total assets	5,634,957				5,924,209				5,634,957	5,924,209
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	4,230,429				4,755,620				4,230,429	4,755,620
Assets held for sale or contribution	322,139				378,423				322,139	378,423
Notes receivable backed by real estate	32,100				235,050				32,100	235,050
Cash and cash equivalents	807,316				264,080				807,316	264,080
Other assets	$ 242,973				$ 291,036				$ 242,973	$ 291,036