Acquisitions of CapLease, Cole and CCPT - Cole Acquisition Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended
	Feb. 07, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Goodwill		$ 1,894,794,000	$ 92,789,000	$ 0
Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. [Member]
Identifiable Assets Acquired at Fair Value:
Land	1,737,839,000
Buildings, fixtures and improvements	5,901,827,000
Acquired intangible lease assets	1,324,217,000
Total real estate investments	8,963,883,000
Investment in unconsolidated entities	103,966,000
Investment securities, at fair value	151,197,000
Loans held for investment, net	72,326,000
Cash and cash equivalents	149,965,000
Restricted cash	15,704,000
Intangible assets	305,000,000
Goodwill	(80,368,000)
Deferred costs and other assets	94,667,000
Due from affiliates	3,301,000
Total identifiable assets acquired	9,860,009,000
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Assets	(80,368,000)
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,706,585,000
Credit facilities	1,309,000,000
Other debt	49,013,000
Below-market lease liabilities	212,433,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	142,243,000
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	204,558,000
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Deferred Rent, Derivative and Other Liabilities	(30,741,000)
Dividends payable	6,271,000
Due to affiliates	44,000
Total liabilities assumed	4,630,147,000
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Liabilities	(30,741,000)
Non-controlling interests	24,766,000
Net identifiable assets acquired	5,205,096,000
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net Excluding Goodwill	(49,627,000)
Net identifiable assets acquired by Company	0
Goodwill	2,262,547,000
Business Combination, Provisional Information, Initial Accounting Incomplete, Adjustment, Goodwill	49,627,000
Net assets acquired	7,467,643,000
Real Estate Investment Segment [Member]
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Goodwill		1,509,396,000	92,789,000	0
Real Estate Investment Segment [Member] | Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. [Member]
Identifiable Assets Acquired at Fair Value:
Total real estate investments	8,963,883,000
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Goodwill	1,654,085,000
Cole Capital Segment [Member]
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Goodwill		385,398,000	0	0
Cole Capital Segment [Member] | Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. [Member]
Identifiable Assets Acquired at Fair Value:
Land	0
Buildings, fixtures and improvements	0
Acquired intangible lease assets	0
Total real estate investments	0
Investment in unconsolidated entities	3,307,000
Investment securities, at fair value	0
Loans held for investment, net	0
Cash and cash equivalents	20,413,000
Restricted cash	0
Intangible assets	305,000,000
Deferred costs and other assets	50,893,000
Due from affiliates	3,301,000
Total identifiable assets acquired	382,914,000
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Mortgage notes payable, net	0
Credit facilities	0
Other debt	0
Below-market lease liabilities	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	54,615,000
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	136,717,000
Dividends payable	0
Due to affiliates	44,000
Total liabilities assumed	191,376,000
Non-controlling interests	0
Net identifiable assets acquired	191,538,000
Goodwill	608,462,000
Net assets acquired	800,000,000
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] | Real Estate Investment Segment [Member] | Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. [Member]
Identifiable Assets Acquired at Fair Value:
Land	1,737,839,000
Buildings, fixtures and improvements	5,901,827,000
Acquired intangible lease assets	1,324,217,000
Total real estate investments	8,963,883,000
Investment in unconsolidated entities	100,659,000
Investment securities, at fair value	151,197,000
Loans held for investment, net	72,326,000
Cash and cash equivalents	129,552,000
Restricted cash	15,704,000
Intangible assets	0
Deferred costs and other assets	43,774,000
Due from affiliates	0
Total identifiable assets acquired	9,477,095,000
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,706,585,000
Credit facilities	1,309,000,000
Other debt	49,013,000
Below-market lease liabilities	212,433,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	87,628,000
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	67,841,000
Dividends payable	6,271,000
Due to affiliates	0
Total liabilities assumed	4,438,771,000
Non-controlling interests	24,766,000
Net identifiable assets acquired	5,013,558,000
Goodwill	1,654,085,000
Net assets acquired	6,667,643,000
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member] | Cole Capital Segment [Member] | Cole Real Estate Investments, Inc. [Member]
Identifiable Assets Acquired at Fair Value:
Land	0
Buildings, fixtures and improvements	0
Acquired intangible lease assets	0
Total real estate investments	0
Investment in unconsolidated entities	3,307,000
Investment securities, at fair value	0
Loans held for investment, net	0
Cash and cash equivalents	20,413,000
Restricted cash	0
Intangible assets	385,368,000
Deferred costs and other assets	50,893,000
Due from affiliates	3,301,000
Total identifiable assets acquired	463,282,000
Identifiable Liabilities Assumed at Fair Value:
Mortgage notes payable, net	0
Credit facilities	0
Other debt	0
Below-market lease liabilities	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	54,615,000
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	167,458,000
Dividends payable	0
Due to affiliates	44,000
Total liabilities assumed	222,117,000
Non-controlling interests	0
Net identifiable assets acquired	241,165,000
Goodwill	558,835,000
Net assets acquired	$ 800,000,000