Investments in Unconsolidated Entities - Repayments of Mortgages (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Scheduled principal repayments on mortgage indebtedness
2016		$ 2,928,580
2017		3,043,067
2018		1,024,275
2019		2,607,519
2020		3,159,632
Thereafter		9,739,204
Total principal maturities		22,502,277
Net unamortized debt premium		(104)
Total mortgages and unsecured indebtedness		22,502,173	$ 20,852,993
Loss on debt extinguishment		120,953	127,573
Equity Method Investments | Unconsolidated properties
Scheduled principal repayments on mortgage indebtedness
2016		1,325,067
2017		810,684
2018		433,362
2019		599,718
2020		3,049,673
Thereafter		7,668,576
Total principal maturities		13,887,080
Net unamortized debt premium		3,961
Total mortgages and unsecured indebtedness		$ 13,891,041	$ 13,272,557
Debt repaid interest rate, low end of range (as a percent)		0.37%
Debt repaid interest rate, high end of range (as a percent)		9.35%
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)		4.15%
Equity Method Investments | Unconsolidated properties | Maximum
Investments in Unconsolidated Entities
Life of joint ventures with excess investment		40 years
Equity Method Investments | Unconsolidated properties | Aventura Mall
Scheduled principal repayments on mortgage indebtedness
Joint venture ownership percentage	33.00%
Loss on debt extinguishment	$ 82,800
Equity Method Investments | Unconsolidated properties | Aventura Mall | Mortgages maturing December 11, 2017
Scheduled principal repayments on mortgage indebtedness
Debt refinanced	$ 430,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)	5.91%
Equity Method Investments | Unconsolidated properties | Aventura Mall | Mortgages maturing December 01, 2020
Scheduled principal repayments on mortgage indebtedness
Debt issued to refinance previous mortgage	$ 1,200,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)	3.75%