Investments in Unconsolidated Entities and International Investments - Combined Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
REVENUE:
Lease income	$ 1,013,510	$ 1,298,567	$ 2,275,742	$ 2,578,623
Other income	27,496	70,371	89,458	215,604
Total revenue	1,062,041	1,397,186	2,415,401	2,850,019
EXPENSES:
Property operating	70,620	106,119	176,243	217,669
Depreciation and amortization	324,140	352,606	652,402	681,249
Real estate taxes	117,221	115,914	234,764	231,372
Repairs and maintenance	14,080	21,850	38,511	49,772
Advertising and promotion	12,689	35,420	46,216	72,545
Other	29,037	27,820	56,878	53,236
Total operating expenses	611,173	716,555	1,309,664	1,424,366
OPERATING INCOME BEFORE OTHER ITEMS	450,868	680,631	1,105,737	1,425,653
Interest expense	(197,061)	(198,425)	(384,688)	(397,160)
Gain on sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net	(7,845)	2,681	(6,883)	2,681
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	290,548	572,102	795,952	1,204,048
Income from Unconsolidated Entities	44,322	106,542	94,787	196,986
Equity Method Investees excluding Klepierre, ABG, HBS, RGG, Forever 21 and Sparc Group | Unconsolidated properties
REVENUE:
Lease income	574,246	760,131	1,318,096	1,519,110
Other income	46,205	79,389	120,718	155,311
Total revenue	620,451	839,520	1,438,814	1,674,421
EXPENSES:
Property operating	107,309	140,262	254,339	284,983
Depreciation and amortization	165,511	170,407	336,989	340,664
Real estate taxes	60,634	67,809	129,023	136,526
Repairs and maintenance	13,589	18,832	33,204	41,209
Advertising and promotion	10,016	19,695	32,768	44,021
Other	15,734	47,743	65,964	97,058
Total operating expenses	372,793	464,748	852,287	944,461
OPERATING INCOME BEFORE OTHER ITEMS	247,658	374,772	586,527	729,960
Interest expense	(152,409)	(157,927)	(309,050)	(313,944)
Gain on sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net				21,587
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	95,249	216,845	277,477	437,603
Third-Party Investors' Share of Net Income	53,989	110,620	146,848	223,287
Our Share of Net Income	41,260	106,225	130,629	214,316
Amortization of Excess Investment	(20,761)	(20,774)	(41,601)	(41,567)
Our Share of Gain on Sale or Disposal of Assets and Interest in Other Income in the Consolidated Financial Statements				(9,155)
Income from Unconsolidated Entities	$ 20,499	$ 85,451	$ 89,028	$ 163,594