Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated Net Income	$ 2,423,188	$ 2,822,343	$ 2,244,903
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	1,394,172	1,349,776	1,357,351
Loss on debt extinguishment	116,256		128,618
Gain on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net	(14,883)	(288,827)	(3,647)
Gains on sales of marketable securities			(21,541)
Unrealized losses in fair value of equity instruments	8,212	15,212
Gain on interest in unconsolidated entity (Note 6)		(35,621)
Straight-line lease income	(67,139)	(18,325)	(26,543)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(444,349)	(475,250)	(400,270)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated entities	428,769	390,137	374,101
Changes in assets and liabilities
Tenant receivables and accrued revenue, net	(157)	(17,518)	(26,170)
Deferred costs and other assets	(49,338)	(75,438)	(132,945)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, intangibles, deferred revenues and other liabilities	13,100	84,307	99,931
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,807,831	3,750,796	3,593,788
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions	(12,800)	(51,060)	(264,488)
Funding of loans to related parties		(4,641)	(71,532)
Proceeds on loans to related parties	7,641
Capital expenditures, net	(876,011)	(781,909)	(732,100)
Cash impact from the consolidation of properties	1,045	11,276	7,536
Net proceeds from sale of assets	6,776	183,241	19,944
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(63,789)	(63,397)	(157,173)
Purchase of equity instruments	(374,231)	(21,563)	(25,000)
Proceeds from sales of equity instruments		25,000	56,268
Insurance proceeds for property restoration	5,662	19,083
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities and other	229,000	447,464	405,078
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,076,707)	(236,506)	(761,467)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sales of common stock, issuance of units and other, net of transaction costs	(328)	(329)	(328)
Purchase of shares related to stock grant recipients' tax withholdings	(2,955)	(2,911)	(2,789)
Redemption of limited partner units	(6,846)	(81,506)
Purchase of treasury stock	(359,773)	(354,108)	(407,002)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders in properties	(41,549)	(76,963)	(11,295)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders in properties	139	161	382
Preferred distributions of the Operating Partnership	(1,915)	(1,915)	(1,915)
Distributions to stockholders and preferred dividends	(2,558,944)	(2,449,071)	(2,231,259)
Distributions to limited partners	(388,542)	(370,656)	(338,602)
Cash paid to extinguish debt	(99,975)		(128,618)
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of transaction costs	13,312,301	7,973,719	11,668,026
Repayments of debt	(12,427,699)	(9,118,685)	(10,456,671)
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,576,086)	(4,482,264)	(1,910,071)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	155,038	(967,974)	922,250
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	514,335	1,482,309	560,059
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	669,373	514,335	1,482,309
Simon Property Group, L.P.
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Consolidated Net Income	2,423,188	2,822,343	2,244,903
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization	1,394,172	1,349,776	1,357,351
Loss on debt extinguishment	116,256		128,618
Gain on sale or disposal of, or recovery on, assets and interests in unconsolidated entities and impairment, net	(14,883)	(288,827)	(3,647)
Gains on sales of marketable securities			(21,541)
Unrealized losses in fair value of equity instruments	8,212	15,212
Gain on interest in unconsolidated entity (Note 6)		(35,621)
Straight-line lease income	(67,139)	(18,325)	(26,543)
Equity in income of unconsolidated entities	(444,349)	(475,250)	(400,270)
Distributions of income from unconsolidated entities	428,769	390,137	374,101
Changes in assets and liabilities
Tenant receivables and accrued revenue, net	(157)	(17,518)	(26,170)
Deferred costs and other assets	(49,338)	(75,438)	(132,945)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, intangibles, deferred revenues and other liabilities	13,100	84,307	99,931
Net cash provided by operating activities	3,807,831	3,750,796	3,593,788
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions	(12,800)	(51,060)	(264,488)
Funding of loans to related parties		(4,641)	(71,532)
Proceeds on loans to related parties	7,641
Capital expenditures, net	(876,011)	(781,909)	(732,100)
Cash impact from the consolidation of properties	1,045	11,276	7,536
Net proceeds from sale of assets	6,776	183,241	19,944
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(63,789)	(63,397)	(157,173)
Purchase of equity instruments	(374,231)	(21,563)	(25,000)
Proceeds from sales of equity instruments		25,000	56,268
Insurance proceeds for property restoration	5,662	19,083
Distributions of capital from unconsolidated entities and other	229,000	447,464	405,078
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,076,707)	(236,506)	(761,467)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from sales of common stock, issuance of units and other, net of transaction costs	(328)	(329)	(328)
Purchase of shares related to stock grant recipients' tax withholdings	(2,955)	(2,911)	(2,789)
Redemption of limited partner units	(6,846)	(81,506)
Purchase of general partner units	(359,773)	(354,108)	(407,002)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest holders in properties	(41,549)	(76,963)	(11,295)
Contributions from noncontrolling interest holders in properties	139	161	382
Preferred distributions of the Operating Partnership	(2,949,401)	(2,821,642)	(2,571,776)
Cash paid to extinguish debt	(99,975)		(128,618)
Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of transaction costs	13,312,301	7,973,719	11,668,026
Repayments of debt	(12,427,699)	(9,118,685)	(10,456,671)
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,576,086)	(4,482,264)	(1,910,071)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	155,038	(967,974)	922,250
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	514,335	1,482,309	560,059
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	$ 669,373	$ 514,335	$ 1,482,309