Investments in Unconsolidated Entities and International Investments - Combined Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
REVENUE:
Lease income	$ 993,831	$ 1,308,908	$ 3,269,572	$ 3,887,532
Other income	45,498	79,670	134,957	295,274
Total revenue	1,060,674	1,416,554	3,476,074	4,266,574
EXPENSES:
Property operating	91,236	121,735	267,479	339,404
Depreciation and amortization	333,755	334,944	986,157	1,016,193
Real estate taxes	112,311	118,031	347,075	349,404
Repairs and maintenance	18,971	23,979	57,482	73,752
Advertising and promotion	14,751	36,583	60,967	109,128
Other	42,650	22,083	99,527	75,318
Total operating expenses	656,650	711,252	1,966,313	2,135,619
OPERATING INCOME BEFORE OTHER ITEMS	404,024	705,302	1,509,761	2,130,955
Interest expense	(201,858)	(202,382)	(586,545)	(599,541)
Gain on sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net	(91,285)	10,141	(98,168)	12,822
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	168,646	628,724	964,598	1,832,772
Income from Unconsolidated Entities	61,823	119,706	156,610	316,691
Equity Method Investees excluding Klepierre, ABG, HBS, RGG, Forever 21 and SPARC Group | Unconsolidated properties
REVENUE:
Lease income	601,522	766,740	1,919,618	2,285,848
Other income	94,630	79,025	215,349	234,337
Total revenue	696,152	845,765	2,134,967	2,520,185
EXPENSES:
Property operating	129,024	149,759	383,363	434,742
Depreciation and amortization	175,716	171,407	512,705	512,070
Real estate taxes	68,464	64,172	197,487	200,698
Repairs and maintenance	16,457	20,729	49,661	61,938
Advertising and promotion	9,901	19,831	42,669	63,852
Other	41,857	45,747	107,822	142,806
Total operating expenses	441,419	471,645	1,293,707	1,416,106
OPERATING INCOME BEFORE OTHER ITEMS	254,733	374,120	841,260	1,104,079
Interest expense	(154,579)	(159,971)	(463,629)	(473,914)
Gain on sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net				21,587
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME	100,154	214,149	377,631	651,752
Third-Party Investors' Share of Net Income	46,785	108,792	193,633	332,078
Our Share of Net Income	53,369	105,357	183,998	319,674
Amortization of Excess Investment	(20,543)	(20,846)	(62,144)	(62,413)
Our Share of Gain on Sale or Disposal of Assets and Interest in Other Income in the Consolidated Financial Statements				(9,156)
Income from Unconsolidated Entities	$ 32,826	$ 84,511	$ 121,854	$ 248,105