Consolidated Statement of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	KTR Capital Partners and Affiliates [Member]	Other Acquisitions [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Net Earnings [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member] KTR Capital Partners and Affiliates [Member]	Non-controlling Interests [Member] Other Acquisitions [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 15,183,599			$ 78,235	$ 5,095	$ 18,467,009	$ (600,337)	$ (3,974,493)	$ 1,208,090
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2014					509,498
Consolidated net earnings	925,515							869,439	56,076
Effect of equity compensation plans	83,703				$ 15	57,454			26,234
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares					1,475
Issuance of stock in at-the-market program, net of issuance costs	71,548				$ 16	71,532
Issuance of stock in at-the-market program, net of issuance costs, shares					1,662
Issuance of stock upon conversion of exchangeable debt	502,732				$ 119	502,613
Issuance of stock upon conversion of exchangeable debt, shares					11,872
Issuance of units related to acquisitions		$ 181,170	$ 371,570							$ 181,170	$ 371,570
Capital contributions	2,355,596								2,355,596
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	(208,901)						(173,852)		(35,049)
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, net	(17,457)						(17,240)		(217)
Reallocation of equity						202,812		(15,894)	(186,918)
Distributions and other	(1,028,239)					947		(805,535)	(223,651)
Distributions and other, shares					5
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	18,420,836			78,235	$ 5,245	19,302,367	(791,429)	(3,926,483)	3,752,901
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2015					524,512
Consolidated net earnings	1,292,540							1,209,932	82,608
Effect of equity compensation plans	117,697				$ 23	91,191			26,483
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares					2,282
Issuance of units related to acquisitions	3,162								3,162
Conversion of noncontrolling interests					$ 19	52,237			(52,256)
Conversion of noncontrolling interests, shares					1,877
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	(135,958)						(144,730)		8,772
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, net	(1,349)						(1,314)		(35)
Reallocation of equity						8,657			(8,657)
Distributions and other	(1,238,788)					587		(893,456)	(345,919)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 18,458,140			78,235	$ 5,287	19,455,039	(937,473)	(3,610,007)	3,467,059
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2016	528,671				528,671
Consolidated net earnings	$ 1,760,959							1,652,325	108,634
Effect of equity compensation plans	115,972				$ 20	74,506			41,446
Effect of equity compensation plans, shares					2,000
Capital contributions	254,214								254,214
Repurchase of preferred stock	(13,182)			(9,287)				(3,895)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests	(813,847)					(202,040)			(611,807)
Conversion of noncontrolling interests					$ 15	47,711			(47,726)
Conversion of noncontrolling interests, shares					1,515
Foreign currency translation gains (losses), net	63,455						13,810		49,645
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivative contracts, net	22,591						22,005		586
Reallocation of equity						(12,143)			12,143
Distributions and other	(1,142,561)					(66)		(942,884)	(199,611)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 18,705,741			$ 68,948	$ 5,322	$ 19,363,007	$ (901,658)	$ (2,904,461)	$ 3,074,583
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2017	532,186				532,186