CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Convertible Preferred Stock	Convertible Preferred Stock OP Units [Member]	Common Stock	Common Stock OP Units [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital	Additional Paid-In Capital OP Units [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Deficit Convertible Preferred Stock	Accumulated Deficit Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D [Member]	Total Stock-holders' Equity	Total Stock-holders' Equity Convertible Preferred Stock	Total Stock-holders' Equity Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D [Member]	Total Stock-holders' Equity OP Units [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest	Noncontrolling Interest OP Units [Member]	Stockholders' Equity, Total	Stockholders' Equity, Total Convertible Preferred Stock	Stockholders' Equity, Total Convertible Preferred Stock, Series D [Member]	Stockholders' Equity, Total OP Units [Member]
Value, outstanding, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 2,250,314	$ 422		$ 2,392		$ 2,939,287		$ 7,666	$ (867,436)			$ 2,082,331				$ 167,983		$ 2,250,314
Shares, outstanding, beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2013		42,199,547		239,234,725
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock, shares				524,305,318
Issuance of common stock				5,243		7,324,217						7,329,460						7,329,460
Offering costs						(1,715)						(1,715)						(1,715)
Conversion of OP Units to common stock, shares					951,708
Conversion of Common OP Units to common stock					10		13,444								13,454		(13,454)				0
Conversion of OP Units to Series F Preferred Stock, Shares			455,372
Conversion of Preferred OP Units to Series F Preferred Stock			5				9,404								9,409		(9,409)				0
Issuance of RSUs, net, shares				5,440,187
Issuance of RSUs, net				54		(1,332)						(1,278)				0		(1,278)
Amortization of restricted shares and LTIPs						22,510						22,510						22,510
Distributions declared on common stock									(165,718)			(165,718)						(165,718)
Issuance of OP Units																153,884		153,884
Distributions to non-controlling interest holders																(9,589)		(9,589)
Less: dividends declared on preferred shares and participating securities	(23,632)									(22,427)	(1,205)		(22,427)	(1,205)					(22,427)	(1,205)
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders																279		279
Non-controlling interests retained in Cole Merger																20,996		20,996
Net loss	(320,655)								(308,681)			(308,681)				(11,974)		(320,655)
Other comprehensive income								5,731				5,731						5,731
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Unrealized Holding Gain (Loss) on Securities Arising During Period, Net of Tax	3,095
Value, outstanding, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 9,260,587	$ 427		$ 7,699		$ 10,305,815		$ 13,397	$ (1,365,467)			$ 8,961,871				$ 298,716		$ 9,260,587
Shares, outstanding, ending balance at Mar. 31, 2014		42,654,919		769,931,938