Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated Net Income	$ 2,134,706	$ 2,139,375	$ 1,651,526
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities -
Depreciation and amortization	1,327,946	1,239,214	1,285,784
Loss on debt extinguishment	136,777	120,953	127,573
Gain upon acquisition of controlling interests and sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net	(84,553)	(250,516)	(158,550)
Pre-development project cost charge	31,490
Gain on sale of marketable securities		(80,187)
Straight-line rent	(46,656)	(54,129)	(48,880)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(353,334)	(284,806)	(227,426)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated entities	331,627	271,998	202,269
Changes in assets and liabilities -
Tenant receivables and accrued revenue, net	16,277	9,918	(6,730)
Deferred costs and other assets	(43,797)	(122,677)	(65,569)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, intangibles, deferred revenues and other liabilities	(77,789)	35,542	(29,577)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,372,694	3,024,685	2,730,420
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions	(499,976)	(1,410,881)	(85,459)
Funding of loans to related parties			(50,892)
Repayments of loans to related parties	8,207		170,953
Capital expenditures, net	(798,465)	(1,020,924)	(796,736)
Cash impact from the consolidation of properties	59,994		5,402
Net proceeds from sale of assets	36,558	33,015
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(312,160)	(329,928)	(239,826)
Purchase of marketable and non-marketable securities	(38,809)	(59,523)	(391,188)
Proceeds from sale of marketable and non-marketable securities	42,600	504,012
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities and other	533,025	821,509	490,480
Net cash used in investing activities	(969,026)	(1,462,720)	(897,266)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sales of common stock, issuance of units and other, net of transaction costs	(328)	(285)	277
Purchase of shares or units related to stock grant recipients' tax withholdings	(4,299)	(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	(255,267)	(505,691)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated properties and other			(172,652)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders in properties	(9,731)	(8,041)	(21,259)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders in properties	1,507	4,552	1,738
Preferred distributions of the Operating Partnership	(1,915)	(1,915)	(1,915)
Preferred dividends and distributions to stockholders	(2,037,542)	(1,879,182)	(1,603,603)
Distributions to limited partners	(316,428)	(314,944)	(271,640)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(136,777)	(120,953)	(127,573)
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of transaction costs	14,866,205	10,468,667	3,627,154
Repayments of debt	(14,650,168)	(9,112,020)	(5,323,186)
Proceeds from issuance of debt related to Washington Prime properties, net			1,003,135
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,544,743)	(1,473,113)	(2,937,735)
(DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (NOTE 3)	(141,075)	88,852	(1,104,581)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	701,134	612,282	1,716,863
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	560,059	701,134	612,282
Simon Property Group L.P.
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated Net Income	2,134,706	2,139,375	1,651,526
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities -
Depreciation and amortization	1,327,946	1,239,214	1,285,784
Loss on debt extinguishment	136,777	120,953	127,573
Gain upon acquisition of controlling interests and sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net	(84,553)	(250,516)	(158,550)
Pre-development project cost charge	31,490
Gain on sale of marketable securities		(80,187)
Straight-line rent	(46,656)	(54,129)	(48,880)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(353,334)	(284,806)	(227,426)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated entities	331,627	271,998	202,269
Changes in assets and liabilities -
Tenant receivables and accrued revenue, net	16,277	9,918	(6,730)
Deferred costs and other assets	(43,797)	(122,677)	(65,569)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, intangibles, deferred revenues and other liabilities	(77,789)	35,542	(29,577)
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,372,694	3,024,685	2,730,420
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions	(499,976)	(1,410,881)	(85,459)
Funding of loans to related parties			(50,892)
Repayments of loans to related parties	8,207		170,953
Capital expenditures, net	(798,465)	(1,020,924)	(796,736)
Cash impact from the consolidation of properties	59,994		5,402
Net proceeds from sale of assets	36,558	33,015
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(312,160)	(329,928)	(239,826)
Purchase of marketable and non-marketable securities	(38,809)	(59,523)	(391,188)
Proceeds from sale of marketable and non-marketable securities	42,600	504,012
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities and other	533,025	821,509	490,480
Net cash used in investing activities	(969,026)	(1,462,720)	(897,266)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sales of common stock, issuance of units and other, net of transaction costs	(328)	(285)	277
Purchase of shares or units related to stock grant recipients' tax withholdings	(4,299)	(3,301)
Cash impact of Washington Prime spin-off			(33,776)
Redemption of limited partner units			(14,435)
Purchase of limited partner units	(255,267)	(505,691)
Purchase of noncontrolling interest in consolidated properties and other			(172,652)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders in properties	(9,731)	(8,041)	(21,259)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders in properties	1,507	4,552	1,738
Distributions to limited partners	(2,355,885)	(2,196,041)	(1,877,158)
Loss on debt extinguishment	(136,777)	(120,953)	(127,573)
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of transaction costs	14,866,205	10,468,667	3,627,154
Repayments of debt	(14,650,168)	(9,112,020)	(5,323,186)
Proceeds from issuance of debt related to Washington Prime properties, net			1,003,135
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,544,743)	(1,473,113)	(2,937,735)
(DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (NOTE 3)	(141,075)	88,852	(1,104,581)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	701,134	612,282	1,716,863
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 560,059	$ 701,134	$ 612,282