Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	$ 314,843	$ 52,664	$ 559,288	$ 93,651
Direct financing lease income	1,181	0	2,187	0
Operating expense reimbursements	28,545	2,281	49,641	4,191
Total revenues	381,981	54,945	702,595	97,842
Total Cole Capital revenues	37,412	0	91,479	0
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions	7,068	0	41,504	0
Acquisition related	8,453	37,289	20,337	47,616
Merger and other transaction related	13,286	6,393	235,478	144,162
Property operating expenses	39,372	3,086	69,030	5,635
General and administrative expenses	19,063	2,361	44,748	3,815
Equity based compensation	9,338	3,458	31,848	4,339
Depreciation and amortization	258,993	33,752	424,356	60,505
Total operating expenses	355,573	86,339	867,301	266,072
Operating income (loss)	26,408	(31,394)	(164,706)	(168,230)
Total other expenses, net	6,526	1,167	10,915	2,020
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net	21,926	(40)	1,729	(45)
Loss on contingent value rights	0	(31,134)	0	(31,134)
Gain on disposition of properties	1,510	0	4,489	0
Gain on sale of investments	0	0	0	451
Total other income	(69,673)	(41,075)	(199,214)	(45,832)
Net loss from continuing operations	(43,265)	(72,469)	(363,920)	(214,062)
Income from operations of held for sale properties	0	36	0	20
Gain on held for sale properties	0	0	0	14
Net income from discontinued operations	0	36	0	34
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	(43,265)	(72,433)	(363,920)	(214,028)
Assets	21,315,487		21,315,487		7,807,504
Real Estate Investment Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income	314,843	52,664	559,288	93,651
Direct financing lease income	1,181	0	2,187	0
Operating expense reimbursements	28,545	2,281	49,641	4,191
Total revenues	344,569	54,945	611,116	97,842
Acquisition related	8,453	37,289	20,337	47,616
Merger and other transaction related	13,286	6,393	235,478	144,162
Property operating expenses	39,372	3,086	69,030	5,635
General and administrative expenses	7,033	2,361	13,629	3,815
Equity based compensation	9,338	3,458	31,848	4,339
Depreciation and amortization	234,219	33,752	385,223	60,505
Total operating expenses	311,701	86,339	755,545	266,072
Operating income (loss)	32,868	(31,394)	(144,429)	(168,230)
Interest expense, net	(99,661)	(11,068)	(216,378)	(17,124)
Total other expenses, net	(3,057)	1,167	(3,858)	2,020
Gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net	21,926	(40)	1,729	(45)
Gain on disposition of properties	1,510	0	4,489	0
Gain on sale of investments	0	0	0	451
Total other income	(79,282)	(41,075)	(214,018)	(45,832)
Net loss from continuing operations	(46,414)	(72,469)	(358,447)	(214,062)
Income from operations of held for sale properties	0	36	0	20
Gain on held for sale properties	0	0	0	14
Net income from discontinued operations	0	36	0	34
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	(46,414)	(72,433)	(358,447)	(214,028)
Assets	20,197,707		20,197,707		7,807,504
Cole Capital Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Dealer manager and distribution fees, selling commissions and offering reimbursements	9,969	0	52,422	0
Transaction service fees	14,411	0	18,970	0
Management fees and reimbursements	13,032	0	20,087	0
Total Cole Capital revenues	37,412	0	91,479	0
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions	7,068	0	41,504	0
General and administrative expenses	12,030	0	31,119	0
Depreciation and amortization	24,774	0	39,133	0
Total operating expenses	43,872	0	111,756	0
Total other income	9,609	0	14,804	0
Net income (loss)	3,149	0	(5,473)	0
Assets	$ 1,117,780		$ 1,117,780		$ 0