Acquisitions of CapLease, Cole and CCPT - Cole Acquisition Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified			5 Months Ended		5 Months Ended		5 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Cole Merger [Member]	Feb. 07, 2014 Cole Merger [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Real Estate Investment Segment [Member] Cole Merger [Member]	Feb. 07, 2014 Real Estate Investment Segment [Member] Cole Merger [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Cole Capital Segment [Member] Cole Merger [Member]	Feb. 07, 2014 Cole Capital Segment [Member] Cole Merger [Member]
Identifiable Assets Acquired at Fair Value:
Land			$ 1,736,781	$ 1,737,390	$ 1,736,781	$ 1,737,390
Buildings, fixtures and improvements			5,897,286	5,898,895	5,897,286	5,898,895
Acquired intangible lease assets			1,323,299	1,323,614	1,323,299	1,323,614
Total real estate investments			8,957,366	8,959,899	8,957,366	8,959,899
Investment in unconsolidated entities			103,966	103,966	100,659	100,659	3,307	3,307
Investment securities, at fair value			151,197	151,197	151,197	151,197
Loans held for investment, net			72,326	72,326	72,326	72,326
Cash and cash equivalents			149,965	151,160	129,552	130,747	20,413	20,413
Restricted cash			15,704	15,704	15,704	15,704
Intangible assets			385,368	385,368			385,368	385,368
Deferred costs and other assets			97,589	95,974	46,696	45,081	50,893	50,893
Due from affiliates			3,301	3,301			3,301	3,301
Total identifiable assets acquired			9,936,782	9,938,895	9,473,500	9,475,613	463,282	463,282
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Mortgage notes payable, net			2,706,585	2,719,072	2,706,585	2,719,072
Credit facilities			1,309,000	1,309,000	1,309,000	1,309,000
Other debt			49,013	49,013	49,013	49,013
Below-market lease liabilities			212,391	212,377	212,391	212,377
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			130,666	133,909	86,500	73,441	44,166	60,468
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities			173,742	153,293	54,928	42,764	118,814	110,529
Dividends payable			6,271	6,271	6,271	6,271
Contingent consideration			51,979	51,979	3,606	3,606	48,373	48,373
Due to affiliates			44	44			44	44
Total liabilities assumed			4,639,691	4,634,958	4,428,294	4,415,544	211,397	219,414
Measurement Period Adjustments
Land			(609)		(609)
Buildings, fixtures and improvements			(1,609)		(1,609)
Acquired intangible lease assets			(315)		(315)
Total real estate investments			(2,533)		(2,533)
Cash and cash equivalents			(1,195)		(1,195)
Deferred costs and other assets, net			1,615		1,615
Total identifiable assets purchased			(2,113)		(2,113)
Mortgage notes payable, net			(12,487)		(12,487)
Below-market lease liabilities			14		14
Accounts payable and accrued expenses			(3,243)		13,059		(16,302)
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities			20,449		12,164		8,285
Total liabilities assumed			4,733		12,750		(8,017)
Net identifiable assets acquired			(6,846)		(14,863)		8,017
Goodwill			23,457		31,474		(8,017)
Net assets acquired			16,611		16,611
Noncontrolling interests			20,996	20,996	20,996	20,996
Net identifiable assets acquired			5,276,095	5,282,941	5,024,210	5,039,073	251,885	243,868
Goodwill	2,304,880	96,720	2,208,160	2,184,703	1,660,045	1,628,571	548,115	556,132
Net assets acquired			$ 7,484,255	$ 7,467,644	$ 6,684,255	$ 6,667,644	$ 800,000	$ 800,000