Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated Net Income	$ 2,139,375	$ 1,651,526	$ 1,551,590
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities -
Depreciation and amortization	1,239,214	1,285,784	1,332,950
Loss on debt extinguishment	120,953	127,573
Gain upon acquisition of controlling interests and sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net	(250,516)	(158,550)	(107,515)
Gain on sale of marketable securities	(80,187)
Straight-line rent	(54,129)	(48,880)	(48,264)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(284,806)	(227,426)	(205,259)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated entities	271,998	202,269	179,054
Changes in assets and liabilities -
Tenant receivables and accrued revenue, net	9,918	(6,730)	(13,938)
Deferred costs and other assets	(122,677)	(65,569)	(30,013)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, intangibles, deferred revenues and other liabilities	35,542	(29,577)	42,391
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,024,685	2,730,420	2,700,996
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions	(1,410,881)	(85,459)	(866,541)
Funding of loans to related parties		(50,892)	(99,079)
Repayments of loans to related parties		170,953
Capital expenditures, net	(1,020,924)	(796,736)	(841,209)
Cash impact from the consolidation of properties		5,402
Net proceeds from sale of assets	33,015		274,058
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(329,928)	(239,826)	(143,149)
Purchase of marketable and non-marketable securities	(59,523)	(391,188)	(44,117)
Proceeds from sale of marketable and non-marketable securities	504,012		47,495
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities and other	821,509	490,480	724,454
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,462,720)	(897,266)	(948,088)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sales of common stock and other, net of transaction costs	(285)	277	99
Purchase of shares related to stock grant recipients' tax withholdings	(3,301)
Cash impact of Washington Prime spin-off		(33,776)
Redemption of limited partner units		(14,435)
Purchase of limited partner units and treasury stock	(505,691)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated properties and other		(172,652)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders in properties	(8,041)	(21,259)	(9,335)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders in properties	4,552	1,738	6,053
Preferred distributions of the Operating Partnership	(1,915)	(1,915)	(1,915)
Preferred dividends and distributions to stockholders	(1,879,182)	(1,603,603)	(1,446,042)
Distributions to limited partners	(314,944)	(271,640)	(242,596)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(120,953)	(127,573)
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of transaction costs	10,468,667	3,627,154	2,919,364
Repayments of debt	(9,112,020)	(5,323,186)	(2,446,191)
Proceeds from issuance of debt related to Washington Prime properties, net		1,003,135
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,473,113)	(2,937,735)	(1,220,563)
INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	88,852	(1,104,581)	532,345
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	612,282	1,716,863	1,184,518
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 701,134	$ 612,282	$ 1,716,863