Other Investments (LNR Property Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013		Apr. 19, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012		Apr. 30, 2014	Jul. 28, 2010
Equity Method Ownership Rollforward [Roll Forward]
Distributions from operations of equity method investments											$ 80,116,000	$ 17,252,000		$ 105,586,000
Earnings from equity method investments											94,905,000	41,520,000		103,009,000
LNR Property LLC (LNR)
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
iStar's ownership percentage									24.00%	[1]					24.00%	[1]		24.00%
Percentage of ownership acquired by the Company and a group of investors																		100.00%
Contribution towards principal amount of Holdco Notes		100,000,000
Amount of cash contributed in exchange for equity interest		100,000,000
Equity interest in investee																		120,000,000
Real estate, net proceeds received from escrow																	25,200,000
Equity Method Ownership Rollforward [Roll Forward]
Carrying value of LNR at beginning of period	220,281,000		220,281,000		205,773,000		0				0	205,773,000
Equity in earnings of LNR for the period			0	[2]	45,375,000	[2]	0	[2]				45,375,000	[2]
Balance before other than temporary impairment			220,281,000		251,148,000		0					251,148,000
Other than temporary impairment			0	[2]	(30,867,000)	[2]	0	[2]				(30,867,000)	[2]
Sales proceeds pursuant to contract	(220,300,000)		(220,281,000)		0		0					(220,281,000)
Carrying value of LNR at end of period			0		220,281,000		0					0		205,773,000
Income (loss) from equity method investments, release of AOCI												1,700,000
Operating cash flows									(127,075,000)	[1]					(85,909,000)	[1]
Cash flows from investing activities									(36,543,000)	[1]					(55,686,000)	[1]
Cash flows from financing activities									217,241,000	[1]					229,634,000	[1]
Net cash flows									53,623,000	[1]					88,039,000	[1]
Cash distributions									0	[1]					61,179,000	[1]
Distributions from operations of equity method investments									0	[1]					14,690,000	[1]
Equity method investment, summarized financial information, other loss			66,200,000
Earnings from equity method investments									45,375,000	[1]	0	16,465,000		60,669,000	60,669,000	[1]
LNR Property Corporation and Considered Variable Interest Entity
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Servicing fee revenue									$ 55,500,000						$ 95,400,000

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

[2] During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded an other than temporary impairment of $30.9 million. Subsequent to the sale of the Company's interest in LNR, LNR reported a reduction in their earnings of $66.2 million related to a purchase price allocation adjustment. The reduction was reflected in LNR's operations for the three months ended March 31, 2013, which resulted in a net loss for the period. Because the Company recorded its investment in LNR on a one quarter lag, the adjustment was reflected in the quarter ended June 30, 2013. There was no net impact on the Company's previously reported equity in earnings as the Company limited its proportionate share of earnings from LNR pursuant to the definitive sale agreement as described above.