Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue:
Interest income									$ 226,871		$ 364,094		$ 557,809
Operating lease income									165,040		164,681		175,225
Other income									40,878		40,943		25,953
Total revenue	96,480	97,360	128,442	110,507	136,035	133,297	133,819	166,567	432,789		569,718		758,987
Costs and expenses:
Interest expense									344,788		314,868		413,091
Operating costs-net lease assets									18,439		14,566		15,799
Operating costs-REHI and OREO									77,282		64,694		40,866
Depreciation and amortization									62,619		61,663		61,643
General and administrative									105,039		109,526		124,152
Provision for loan losses									46,412		331,487		1,255,357
Impairment of assets									22,368		16,319		126,885
Other expense									11,070		16,055		62,329
Total costs and expenses									688,017		929,178		2,100,122
Income (loss) before earnings from equity method investments and other items									(255,228)		(359,460)		(1,341,135)
Gain on early extinguishment of debt, net									101,466		108,923		547,349
Earnings from equity method investments									95,091		51,908		5,298
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes									(58,671)		(198,629)		(788,488)
Income tax (expense) benefit									4,719		(7,023)		(4,141)
Income (loss) from continuing operations									(53,952)	[1]	(205,652)	[1]	(792,629)	[1]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations									(2,572)		15,476		10,356
Gain from discontinued operations									25,110		270,382		12,426
Income from sales of residential property									5,721
Net income (loss)	(28,915)	(54,661)	(26,020)	83,902	(58,865)	(74,632)	229,851	(16,142)	(25,693)		80,206		(769,847)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									3,629		(523)		1,071
Net income (loss) attributable to iStar Financial Inc.					(67,050)	(83,531)	212,275	(25,408)	(22,064)		79,683		(768,776)
Preferred dividends									(42,320)		(42,320)		(42,320)
Net (income) loss allocable to HPU holders and Participating Security holders	0	0	0	0	(2,061)	(2,539)	6,452	(768)	1,997	[2],[3]	(1,084)	[2],[3]	22,526	[2],[3]
Net income (loss) allocable to common shareholders	$ (35,202)	$ (62,231)	$ (35,525)	$ 67,420	$ (67,050)	$ (83,531)	$ 212,275	$ (25,408)	$ (62,387)		$ 36,279		$ (788,570)
Income (loss) attributable to iStar Financial Inc. from continuing operations:
Basic (in dollars per share)									$ (0.94)	[1]	$ (2.58)	[1]	$ (8.10)	[1]
Diluted (in dollars per share)									$ (0.94)	[1]	$ (2.58)	[1]	$ (8.10)	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to iStar Financial Inc.:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.43)	$ (0.71)	$ (0.38)	$ 0.73	$ (0.73)	$ (0.89)	$ 2.27	$ (0.27)	$ (0.70)	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ (7.88)	[1]
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.43)	$ (0.71)	$ (0.38)	$ 0.71	$ (0.73)	$ (0.89)	$ 2.27	$ (0.27)	$ (0.70)	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ (7.88)	[1]
Weighted average number of common shares-basic (in shares)	81,769	87,951	92,621	92,458	92,319	93,370	93,382	93,923	88,688	[1]	93,244	[1]	100,071	[1]
Weighted average number of common shares-diluted (in shares)	81,769	87,951	92,621	94,609	92,319	93,370	93,382	93,923	88,688	[1]	93,244	[1]	100,071	[1]
Income (loss) attributable to iStar Financial Inc. from continuing operations:
Basic (in dollars per share)									$ (179.73)	[1],[2]	$ (490.67)	[1],[2]	$ (1,543.67)	[1],[2]
Diluted (in dollars per share)									$ (179.73)	[1],[2]	$ (490.67)	[1],[2]	$ (1,543.67)	[1],[2]
Net income (loss) attributable to iStar Financial Inc.:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (81.47)	$ (133.87)	$ (72.60)	$ 138.00	$ (137.40)	$ (169.27)	$ 430.13	$ (51.20)	$ (133.13)	[1],[2]	$ 72.27	[1],[2]	$ (1,501.73)	[1],[2]
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (81.47)	$ (133.87)	$ (72.60)	$ 135.07	$ (137.40)	$ (169.27)	$ 430.13	$ (51.20)	$ (133.13)	[1],[2]	$ 72.27	[1],[2]	$ (1,501.73)	[1],[2]
Weighted average number of HPU shares-basic and diluted (in shares)	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	[1],[2]	15	[1],[2]	15	[1],[2]

[1] Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to iStar Financial for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009 was $(50,323), $(206,175) and $(791,558), respectively. See Note 14 for details on the calculation of earnings per share.

[2] Participating Security holders are Company employees and directors who hold unvested restricted stock units and common stock equivalents granted under the Company's Long Term Incentive Plans (see Notes 13 and 14).

[3] HPU holders are current and former Company employees who purchased high performance common stock units under the Company's High Performance Unit Program (see Note 11).