Investments in Unconsolidated Entities and International Investments - European Investments (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) property $ / shares shares	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) property $ / shares shares	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) property
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Income from unconsolidated entities									$ 782,837	$ 219,870	$ 444,349
Total assets	$ 33,777,379				$ 34,786,846				33,777,379	34,786,846
Total liabilities	29,376,654				31,128,608				29,376,654	31,128,608
Noncontrolling interests	491,533				432,874				491,533	432,874
Total revenue	1,326,138	$ 1,296,554	$ 1,254,146	$ 1,239,951	1,131,429	$ 1,060,674	$ 1,062,041	$ 1,353,360	5,116,789	4,607,503	5,755,189
Operating Income	591,533	612,324	604,723	604,612	462,047	404,024	450,868	654,869	2,413,190	1,971,809	2,912,787
Consolidated Net Income	$ 573,730	$ 778,648	$ 705,869	510,460	$ 312,726	$ 168,646	$ 290,548	$ 505,404	$ 2,568,707	$ 1,277,324	$ 2,423,188
Designer Outlet properties
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Number of properties consolidated by entity | property	7								7
European Joint Venture | Designer Outlet properties
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Number of properties | property	11				10				11	10	9
European Joint Venture | Designer Outlet properties | Minimum
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest (as a percent)	23.00%								23.00%
European Joint Venture | Designer Outlet properties | Maximum
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest (as a percent)	94.00%								94.00%
European Property Management and Development | Designer Outlet properties
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Ownership interest (as a percent)	50.00%								50.00%
Europe | Outlet Center In Ochtrup
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Non-cash gain on remeasurement of equity interest to fair value				$ 3,700
Europe | Klepierre
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Shares owned | shares	63,924,148								63,924,148
Ownership interest (as a percent)	22.40%								22.40%
Quoted market price per share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	$ 23.65								$ 23.65
Income from unconsolidated entities									$ 145,100	$ 26,500	$ 145,200
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities									1,200	(4,300)	(58,600)
Non cash gain due to setup of tax basis of assets									$ 118,400
Europe | Value Retail PLC
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Number of luxury outlets owned and operated | property	9								9
Number of outlets in which the entity has a minority direct ownership | property	3								3
Europe | Value Retail PLC | Deferred costs and other assets
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Value of equity instruments	$ 140,800				$ 140,800				$ 140,800	140,800
Europe | Klepierre | Klepierre
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities
Total assets	18,100,000				20,900,000				18,100,000	20,900,000
Total liabilities	11,900,000				14,400,000				11,900,000	14,400,000
Noncontrolling interests	$ 1,300,000				$ 1,400,000				1,300,000	1,400,000
Total revenue									1,200,000	1,300,000	1,500,000
Operating Income									380,500	327,300	626,300
Consolidated Net Income									$ 848,100	$ 211,200	$ 655,500