Segment Reporting (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	$ 365,712,000		$ 89,729,000	[1]	$ 924,646,000		$ 183,251,000	[1]
Direct financing lease income	625,000		1,201,000	[1]	2,812,000		1,201,000	[1]
Operating expense reimbursements	30,984,000		4,325,000	[1]	81,716,000		8,516,000	[1]
Total real estate investment revenues	457,118,000		95,255,000	[1],[2]	1,160,450,000		192,968,000	[1],[2]
Total Cole Capital revenues	59,797,000		0	[1]	151,276,000		0	[1]
Acquisition related	13,998,000	[3]	26,948,000	[1],[3]	34,616,000	[3]	74,541,000	[1],[3]
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions	15,398,000		0	[1]	56,902,000		0	[1]
Merger and other non-routine transactions	7,632,000	[4]	4,301,000	[1],[4]	175,352,000	[4]	133,734,000	[1],[4]
Property operating	40,977,000		5,430,000	[1]	110,018,000		11,065,000	[1]
Management fees to affiliate	0		0	[1]	13,888,000		12,493,000	[1]
General and administrative	32,207,000	[5]	9,866,000	[1],[5]	128,711,000	[5]	23,921,000	[1],[5]
Depreciation and amortization	265,150,000		62,136,000	[1]	689,731,000		122,484,000	[1]
Impairment of real estate	2,299,000		2,074,000	[1]	3,855,000		2,074,000	[1]	3,300,000
Total operating expenses	377,661,000		110,755,000	[1],[2]	1,213,073,000		380,312,000	[1],[2]
Operating income (loss)	79,457,000		(15,500,000)	[1]	(52,623,000)		(187,344,000)	[1]
Total other expense	(367,504,000)		(67,950,000)	[2]	(597,862,000)		(114,381,000)	[2]
Extinguishment of debt, net					14,637,000		0	[1]
Other income, net	7,556,000		136,000	[1]	29,702,000		2,658,000	[1]
Loss on derivative instruments, net	(17,484,000)		(38,651,000)	[1]	(10,398,000)		(69,830,000)	[1]
Gain (loss) on sale of investments	6,357,000		(2,246,000)	[1]	6,357,000		(1,795,000)	[1]
Total other expenses, net	(367,504,000)		(67,950,000)	[1]	(597,862,000)		(114,381,000)	[1]
Net loss from continuing operations	(288,047,000)		(83,450,000)	[1]	(650,485,000)		(301,725,000)	[1]
Loss from continuing operations	(288,047,000)		(83,450,000)	[2]	(650,485,000)		(301,725,000)	[2]
Income from operations of held for sale assets	0		96,000	[1]	0		159,000	[1]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0		96,000	[1],[2]	0		159,000	[1],[2]
Net loss	(288,047,000)		(83,354,000)	[1],[2]	(650,485,000)		(301,566,000)	[1],[2]
Assets	22,867,583,000		5,348,456,000		22,867,583,000		5,348,456,000		7,809,083,000	[1]
Real Estate Investment Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	365,712,000		89,729,000	[2]	924,646,000		183,251,000	[2]
Direct financing lease income	625,000		1,201,000	[2]	2,812,000		1,201,000	[2]
Operating expense reimbursements	30,984,000		4,325,000	[2]	81,716,000		8,516,000	[2]
Total real estate investment revenues	397,321,000		95,255,000	[2]	1,009,174,000		192,968,000	[2]
Acquisition related	13,998,000		26,948,000	[2]	34,616,000		74,541,000	[2]
Merger and other non-routine transactions	7,613,000		4,301,000	[2]	173,406,000		133,734,000	[2]
Property operating	40,977,000		5,430,000	[2]	110,018,000		11,065,000	[2]
Management fees to affiliate	0		0	[2]	13,888,000		12,493,000	[2]
General and administrative	14,942,000		9,866,000	[2]	68,580,000		23,921,000	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	240,073,000		62,136,000	[2]	625,521,000		122,484,000	[2]
Impairment of real estate	2,299,000		2,074,000	[2]	3,855,000		2,074,000	[2]
Total operating expenses	319,902,000		110,755,000	[2]	1,029,884,000		380,312,000	[2]
Operating income (loss)	77,419,000		(15,500,000)	[2]	(20,710,000)		(187,344,000)	[2]
Interest expense, net	(101,643,000)		(27,189,000)	[2]	(326,491,000)		(45,414,000)	[2]
Extinguishment of debt, net	(5,396,000)		0	[2]	(21,264,000)		0	[2]
Other income, net	8,508,000		136,000	[2]	16,799,000		2,658,000	[2]
Loss on derivative instruments, net	(17,484,000)		(38,651,000)	[2]	(10,398,000)		(69,830,000)	[2]
Loss on disposition of property	(256,894,000)		0	[2]	(275,768,000)		0	[2]
Gain (loss) on sale of investments	6,357,000		(2,246,000)	[2]	6,357,000		(1,795,000)	[2]
Total other expenses, net	(366,552,000)		(67,950,000)	[2]	(610,765,000)		(114,381,000)	[2]
Net loss from continuing operations	(289,133,000)		(83,450,000)	[2]	(631,475,000)		(301,725,000)	[2]
Income from operations of held for sale assets	0		96,000	[2]	0		159,000	[2]
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0		96,000	[2]	0		159,000	[2]
Net loss	(289,133,000)		(83,354,000)	[2]	(631,475,000)		(301,566,000)	[2]
Assets	21,834,806,000				21,834,806,000				7,809,083,000
Cole Capital Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Dealer manager and distribution fees, selling commissions and offering reimbursements	21,535,000		0	[2]	73,957,000		0	[2]
Transaction service fees	22,972,000		0	[2]	41,942,000		0	[2]
Management fees and reimbursements	15,290,000		0	[2]	35,377,000		0	[2]
Total Cole Capital revenues	59,797,000		0	[2]	151,276,000		0	[2]
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions	15,398,000		0	[2]	56,902,000		0	[2]
Merger and other non-routine transactions	19,000		0	[2]	1,946,000		0	[2]
General and administrative	17,265,000		0	[2]	60,131,000		0	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	25,077,000		0	[2]	64,210,000		0	[2]
Total operating expenses	57,759,000		0	[2]	183,189,000		0	[2]
Total other expenses, net	(952,000)		0	[2]	12,903,000		0	[2]
Loss from continuing operations	1,086,000		0	[2]	(19,010,000)		0	[2]
Income from operations of held for sale assets	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Net loss	1,086,000		0	[2]	(19,010,000)		0	[2]
Assets	$ 1,032,777,000				$ 1,032,777,000				$ 0

[1] For discussion on the restatement adjustments, see Note 2 - Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements.

[2] For discussion of the restatement adjustments, see Note 2 - Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements.

[3] Includes $1.7 million to affiliates for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and $10.1 million and $36.9 million to affiliates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

[4] Includes $137.8 million to affiliates for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, and $2.3 million and $109.2 million to affiliates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.

[5] Includes $0.1 million and $16.1 million to affiliates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014, respectively, and $7.0 million and $16.3 million to affiliates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively.