Segment Reporting (Schedule of Segments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Apr. 19, 2013 LNR Property LLC (LNR)		Dec. 31, 2013 LNR Property LLC (LNR)	Dec. 31, 2012 LNR Property LLC (LNR)	Sep. 30, 2012 LNR Property LLC (LNR)		Dec. 31, 2011 LNR Property LLC (LNR)	Sep. 30, 2011 LNR Property LLC (LNR)		Sep. 30, 2013 LNR Property LLC (LNR)		Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Segments Real Estate Finance		Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Segments Real Estate Finance		Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Segments Real Estate Finance		Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Segments Net Lease		Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Segments Net Lease		Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Segments Net Lease		Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Segments Operating Properties		Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Segments Operating Properties		Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Segments Operating Properties		Dec. 31, 2013 Operating Segments Land		Dec. 31, 2012 Operating Segments Land		Dec. 31, 2011 Operating Segments Land		Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate, Non-Segment		Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate, Non-Segment		Dec. 31, 2011 Corporate, Non-Segment
Segment Reporting
Operating lease income																	$ 234,567		$ 216,291		$ 195,872													$ 0		$ 0	[1]	$ 0	[1]	$ 147,313		$ 149,058	[1]	$ 144,548	[1]	$ 86,352		$ 65,706	[1]	$ 51,153	[1]	$ 902		$ 1,527	[1]	$ 171	[1]	$ 0	[2]	$ 0	[1],[2]	$ 0	[1],[2]
Interest income																	108,015		133,410		226,871													108,015		133,410	[1]	226,871	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Other income																	48,208		47,838		39,722													4,748		8,613	[1]	3,176	[1]	250		0	[1]	0	[1]	38,164		32,615	[1]	32,538	[1]	1,474		2,635	[1]	1,637	[1]	3,572	[2]	3,975	[1],[2]	2,371	[1],[2]
Total revenues	101,073	[3]	95,696	[3]	99,919	[3]	94,102	[3]	96,421	[3],[4]	93,462	[3],[4]	106,886	[3],[4]	100,770	[3],[4]	390,790		397,539		462,465													112,763		142,023	[1]	230,047	[1]	147,563		149,058	[1]	144,548	[1]	124,516		98,321	[1]	83,691	[1]	2,376		4,162	[1]	1,808	[1]	3,572	[2]	3,975	[1],[2]	2,371	[1],[2]
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments																	41,520		103,009		95,091		45,375	[5],[6]	16,465	60,669	60,669	[5],[6]	53,861	53,861	[5],[6]			0		0	[1]	0	[1]	2,699		2,632	[1]	2,566	[1]	5,546		25,142	[1]	(626)	[1]	(5,331)		(6,138)	[1]	(7,213)	[1]	38,606	[2]	81,373	[1],[2]	100,364	[1],[2]
Income from sales of residential property															27,900		86,658		63,472		5,721													0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	82,603		63,472	[1]	5,721	[1]	4,055		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Net operating income from discontinued operations(2)																	2,735		8,175		13,198													0		0	[1]	0	[1]	1,484		7,289	[1]	14,135	[1]	1,251		886	[1]	(937)	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Gain from discontinued operations																	22,233		27,257		25,110													0		0	[1]	0	[1]	3,395		27,257	[1]	25,110	[1]	18,838		0	[1]	0	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Revenue and other earnings																	543,936		599,452		601,585													112,763		142,023	[1]	230,047	[1]	155,141		186,236	[1]	186,359	[1]	232,754		187,821	[1]	87,849	[1]	1,100		(1,976)	[1]	(5,405)	[1]	42,178	[2]	85,348	[1],[2]	102,735	[1],[2]
Real estate expense																	(157,441)		(151,458)		(138,714)													0		0	[1]	0	[1]	(22,565)		(23,886)	[1]	(25,054)	[1]	(101,044)		(100,258)	[1]	(92,012)	[1]	(33,832)		(27,314)	[1]	(21,648)	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Other expense																	(8,050)		(17,266)		(11,070)													(1,625)		(4,775)	[1]	(2,866)	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	(6,425)	[2]	(12,491)	[1],[2]	(8,204)	[1],[2]
Allocated interest expense(2)																	(266,225)	[7]	(356,161)	[7]	(345,914)	[7]												(74,377)	[7]	(111,898)	[1],[7]	(156,163)	[1],[7]	(80,034)	[7]	(92,579)	[1],[7]	(75,844)	[1],[7]	(49,114)	[7]	(69,259)	[1],[7]	(52,774)	[1],[7]	(30,368)	[7]	(44,125)	[1],[7]	(40,480)	[1],[7]	(32,332)	[2],[7]	(38,300)	[1],[2],[7]	(20,653)	[1],[7]
Allocated general and administrative(3)																	(72,853)	[8]	(65,563)	[8]	(75,337)	[8]												(13,186)	[8]	(14,263)	[1],[8]	(19,934)	[1],[8]	(14,330)	[8]	(10,618)	[1],[8]	(9,681)	[1],[8]	(9,189)	[8]	(7,572)	[1],[8]	(6,737)	[1],[8]	(12,365)	[8]	(7,405)	[1],[8]	(6,959)	[1],[8]	(23,783)	[2],[8]	(25,705)	[1],[2],[8]	(32,026)	[1],[8]
Segment profit (loss)(4)																	39,367	[9]	9,004	[9]	30,550	[9]												23,575	[9]	11,087	[1],[9]	51,084	[1],[9]	38,212	[9]	59,153	[1],[9]	75,780	[1],[9]	73,407	[9]	10,732	[1],[9]	(63,674)	[1],[9]	(75,465)	[9]	(80,820)	[1],[9]	(74,492)	[1],[9]	(20,362)	[2],[9]	8,852	[1],[9]	41,852	[1],[9]
Provision for loan losses																	5,489		81,740	[10]	46,412	[10]												5,489		81,740	[1]	46,412	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Impairment of assets																	14,353	[7]	36,354	[7]	22,386	[7]												0	[7]	0	[1],[7]	0	[1],[7]	1,176	[7]	6,670	[1],[7]	668	[1],[7]	12,449	[7]	28,501	[1],[7]	21,030	[1],[7]	728	[7]	205	[1],[7]	(184)	[1],[7]	0	[2],[7]	978	[1],[2],[7]	872	[1],[2],[7]
Loss on transfer of interest to unconsolidated subsidiary																	7,373		0		0													0						0						0						(7,373)						0
Depreciation and amortization																	71,530	[7]	70,786	[7]	63,928	[7]												0	[7]	0	[1],[7]	0	[1],[7]	38,582	[7]	39,250	[1],[7]	42,080	[1],[7]	30,599	[7]	28,450	[1],[7]	18,169	[1],[7]	1,105	[7]	1,276	[1],[7]	1,534	[1],[7]	1,244	[2],[7]	1,810	[1],[2],[7]	2,145	[1],[2],[7]
Capitalized expenditures																	111,553		83,070		64,169													0		0	[1]	0	[1]	34,076		10,994	[1]	8,699	[1]	41,131		51,579	[1]	38,477	[1]	36,346		20,497	[1]	16,993	[1]	0	[2]	0	[1],[2]	0	[1],[2]
Real estate, at cost	3,220,634								3,117,405								3,220,634		3,117,405															0		0				1,696,888		1,626,810				720,508		704,481				803,238		786,114				0	[2]	0	[2]
Less: accumulated depreciation	(424,453)								(378,306)								(424,453)		(378,306)															0		0				(338,640)		(310,605)				(82,420)		(65,409)				(3,393)		(2,292)				0	[2]	0	[2]
Real estate, net	2,796,181								2,739,099								2,796,181		2,739,099															0		0				1,358,248		1,316,205				638,088		639,072				799,845		783,822				0	[2]	0	[2]
Real estate available and held for sale	360,517								635,865								360,517		635,865															0		0				0		0				228,328		454,587				132,189		181,278				0	[2]	0	[2]
Total real estate	3,156,698								3,374,964								3,156,698		3,374,964															0		0				1,358,248		1,316,205				866,416		1,093,659				932,034		965,100				0	[2]	0	[2]
Loans receivable and other lending investments, net	1,370,109	[11]							1,829,985	[11]							1,370,109	[11]	1,829,985	[11]														1,370,109		1,829,985				0		0				0		0				0		0				0	[2]	0	[2]
Other investments	207,209								398,843								207,209		398,843															0		0				16,408		16,380				16,032		25,745				29,765		5,493				145,004	[2]	351,225	[2]
Total portfolio assets	4,734,016								5,603,792								4,734,016		5,603,792															1,370,109		1,829,985				1,374,656		1,332,585				882,448		1,119,404				961,799		970,593				145,004	[2]	351,225	[2]
Cash and other assets	907,995								556,207								907,995		556,207
Total assets	5,642,011								6,159,999								5,642,011		6,159,999
Equity method investments	197,307								387,718								197,307		387,718						0	205,773	205,773	[12],[6]				0	[12],[6]
Stock-based compensation expense																	$ 19,261		$ 15,293		$ 29,702

[1] The prior periods' presentation have been conformed for the change in the methodology of allocating interest expense and general and administrative expenses to each segment based on gross carrying value of assets. The allocation was previously based on carrying value of assets net of accumulated depreciation and amortization and general loan loss reserves.

[2] Corporate/Other represents all corporate level and unallocated items including any intercompany eliminations necessary to reconcile to consolidated Company totals. This caption also includes the Company's joint venture investments and strategic investments that are not related to the other reportable segments above, including the Company's equity investment in LNR of $205.8 million as of December 31, 2012 and the Company's share of equity in earnings from LNR of $16.5 million, $60.7 million and $53.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively. See Note 6 for further details on the Company's investment in LNR and summarized financial information of LNR.

[3] During the quarter ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $31.0 million primarily related to a prepayment penalty on the early repayment of 8.625% Senior Notes, as well as a loss due to the acceleration of unamortized fees and discounts related to the refinancing of the 2011 Secured Credit Facilities (see Note 8). The Company also recorded $27.9 million related to Income from sales of residential property. During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Madison Funds recorded a significant gain related to the sale of an investment for which the Company recorded its $13.7 million proportionate share.

[4] All periods have been adjusted to reflect the impact of properties sold during 2013 and 2012 and properties classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2013, which are reflected in "Income (loss) from discontinued operations on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.(2)During the quarter ended December 31, 2012, the Company recorded a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $31.0 million primarily related to a prepayment penalty on the early repayment of 8.625% Senior Notes, as well as a loss due to the acceleration of unamortized fees and discounts related to the refinancing of the 2011 Secured Credit Facilities (see Note 8). The Company also recorded $27.9 million related to Income from sales of residential property. During the quarter ended March 31, 2012, the Madison Funds recorded a significant gain related to the sale of an investment for which the Company recorded its $13.7 million proportionate share.

[5] LNR reported a net loss for the period from April 1, 2013 to April 19, 2013 which had already been considered in the Company's other than temporary impairment assessment. As such, no equity in earnings was recorded during the quarter ended September 30, 2013. The total equity in earnings recognized for LNR was $45.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.

[6] The Company recorded its investment in LNR, which was sold in April 2013, on a one quarter lag, therefore, amounts in the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2013 are based on balances and results from LNR for the period from October 1, 2012 to April 19, 2013. The amounts in the Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 are based on balances and results from LNR for the years ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[7] Includes related amounts reclassified to discontinued operations on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[8] General and administrative excludes stock-based compensation expense of $19.3 million, $15.3 million and $29.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

[9] The following is a reconciliation of segment profit (loss) to net income (loss) ($ in thousands): For the Years Ended December 31, 2013 2012 2011Segment profit (loss)$39,367 $9,004 $30,550Less: Provision for loan losses(5,489) (81,740) (46,412)Less: Impairment of assets(2)(14,353) (36,354) (22,386)Less: Loss on transfer of interest to unconsolidated subsidiary(7,373) — —Less: Stock-based compensation expense(19,261) (15,293) (29,702)Less: Depreciation and amortization(2)(71,530) (70,786) (63,928)Less: Income tax (expense) benefit(2)596 (8,445) 4,719Add: Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt, net(33,190) (37,816) 101,466Net income (loss)$(111,233) $(241,430) $(25,693)

[10] For the years ended December 31, 2013, 2012 and 2011, the provision for loan losses includes recoveries of previously recorded loan loss reserves of $63.1 million, $4.6 million and $23.6 million, respectively.

[11] The Company's recorded investment in loans as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 also includes accrued interest of $6.5 million and $9.8 million, respectively, which are included in "Accrued interest and operating lease income receivable, net" on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[12] Represents the Company's investment in LNR at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.