Business Segments - Segment Reporting, Reconciliation of Revenues, Operating Income and Assets (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	$ 1,082,773	$ 942,181	$ 3,327,138	$ 2,504,605
Operating income	556,520	471,480	1,636,564	1,290,126
General and administrative expenses	74,348	65,199	208,701	201,176
Depreciation and amortization expenses	400,738	282,254	1,144,903	850,639
Gains on dispositions of development properties and land, net	134,207	63,935	383,373	303,317
Gains on other dispositions of investments in real estate, net	108,927	59,379	184,357	232,400
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net	73,972	46,302	216,844	151,524
Interest expense	(80,711)	(60,244)	(237,651)	(179,873)
Interest and other income (expense), net	(5,866)	654	(4,469)	12,876
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses), net	(100,974)	59,492	(48,481)	70,267
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	(98,266)	(13,585)	(164,606)	(16,086)
Earnings before income taxes	344,675	504,099	1,398,201	1,328,834
Total assets	55,759,598		55,759,598		$ 40,031,850
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	7,310,960		7,310,960		6,237,371
Assets held for sale or contribution	1,757,187		1,757,187		720,685
Lease right-of-use assets	455,704		455,704		486,330
Cash and cash equivalents	940,193	1,024,994	940,193	1,024,994	1,088,855	$ 343,856
Other assets	2,418,939		2,418,939		1,711,857
Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	45,348,057		45,348,057		31,590,756
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	788,472	695,619	2,422,438	1,806,224
Total assets	45,387,263		45,387,263		31,630,924
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	983,780	711,714	2,810,896	2,111,189
Operating income	735,270	528,556	2,080,106	1,551,476
Operating Segments [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	98,993	230,467	516,242	393,416
Operating income	53,202	167,063	342,332	254,748
Total assets	39,206		39,206		40,168
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	933,916	667,889	2,660,178	1,969,191
Operating income	699,255	497,686	1,976,985	1,450,393
Total assets	41,605,862		41,605,862		27,999,868
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	29,322	21,537	320,181	62,341
Operating income	5,184	(10,129)	222,390	992
Total assets	13,575		13,575		14,529
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Americas | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	21,132	22,723	66,947	70,435
Operating income	15,288	16,698	48,561	51,616
Total assets	1,074,504		1,074,504		1,332,237
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Americas | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	8,851	8,276	27,558	29,800
Operating income	6,276	4,402	17,803	19,179
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	19,558	9,517	53,048	30,337
Operating income	14,207	5,597	33,017	18,029
Total assets	1,615,194		1,615,194		1,379,579
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	36,959	180,365	101,081	242,742
Operating income	26,775	162,646	66,483	205,020
Total assets	25,280		25,280		25,280
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Real Estate Operations [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	9,174	11,585	30,723	41,226
Operating income	6,520	8,575	21,543	31,438
Total assets	1,052,497		1,052,497		879,072
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Strategic Capital [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	23,861	20,289	67,422	58,533
Operating income	14,967	10,144	35,656	29,557
Total assets	351		351		359
Reconciling Items [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Operating income	556,520	471,480	1,636,564	1,290,126
General and administrative expenses	(74,348)	(65,199)	(208,701)	(201,176)
Depreciation and amortization expenses	(400,738)	(282,254)	(1,144,903)	(850,639)
Gains on dispositions of development properties and land, net	134,207	63,935	383,373	303,317
Gains on other dispositions of investments in real estate, net	108,927	59,379	184,357	232,400
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net	73,972	46,302	216,844	151,524
Interest expense	(80,711)	(60,244)	(237,651)	(179,873)
Interest and other income (expense), net	(5,866)	654	(4,469)	12,876
Foreign currency and derivative gains (losses), net	(100,974)	59,492	(48,481)	70,267
Losses on early extinguishment of debt, net	(98,266)	$ (13,585)	(164,606)	$ (16,086)
Total assets	10,372,335		10,372,335		8,400,926
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	7,310,960		7,310,960		6,237,371
Assets held for sale or contribution	1,757,187		1,757,187		720,685
Lease right-of-use assets	112,319		112,319		111,439
Cash and cash equivalents	940,193		940,193		1,088,855
Other assets	$ 251,676		$ 251,676		$ 242,576