Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income									$ 1,271,574	$ 310,508	$ 65,262
Direct financing lease income									3,603	2,244	0
Operating expense reimbursements									100,522	16,571	1,945
Total revenues	418,807	457,118	382,178	321,154	136,226	95,255	54,945	42,897	1,579,257	329,323	67,207
Total Cole Capital revenues									203,558	0	0
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions									66,228	0	0
Acquisition related									38,831	76,113	45,070
Merger and other non-routine transactions									200,514	210,543	2,603
Property operating									137,741	23,616	3,522
Management fees to affiliates									13,888	17,462	212
General and administrative									174,741	123,172	5,458
Depreciation and amortization									916,003	210,976	40,957
Impairments	96,700								100,547	3,346
Total operating expenses									1,957,937	665,228	97,822
Operating loss									(378,680)	(335,905)	(30,615)
Extinguishment of debt, net									14,012	0	0
Other income, net									123,529	3,824	979
Loss on derivative instruments, net									(10,570)	(67,946)	0
Loss on held for sale assets and disposition of properties, net									(277,031)	0	0
Loss on sale of investments in affiliates									77	0	0
Gain (loss) on sale of investments									6,357	(1,795)	0
Total other expenses, net									(632,232)	(171,876)	(10,877)
Net loss from continuing operations									(1,010,912)	(507,781)	(41,492)
Loss from operations of held for sale assets									0	(34)	(145)
Loss on held for sale properties									0	0	(600)
Net loss from discontinued operations									0	(34)	(745)
Net loss									(1,010,912)	(507,815)	(42,237)
Assets	20,515,139				7,809,083				20,515,139	7,809,083
Real Estate Investment Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Rental income									1,271,574	310,508	65,262
Direct financing lease income									3,603	2,244	0
Operating expense reimbursements									100,522	16,571	1,945
Total revenues									1,375,699	329,323	67,207
Acquisition related									35,469	76,113	45,070
Merger and other non-routine transactions									198,545	210,543	2,603
Property operating									137,741	23,616	3,522
Management fees to affiliates									13,888	17,462	212
General and administrative									83,574
Depreciation and amortization									844,743	210,976	40,957
Impairments									100,547	3,346	0
Total operating expenses									1,414,507	665,228	97,822
Operating loss									(38,808)	(335,905)	(30,615)
Interest expense, net									(452,648)	(105,548)	(11,856)
Extinguishment of debt, net									(21,869)	0	0
Other income, net									80,636	3,824	979
Loss on derivative instruments, net									(10,570)	(67,946)	0
Loss on held for sale assets and disposition of properties, net									(277,031)	0	0
Loss on sale of investments in affiliates									0	(411)	0
Gain (loss) on sale of investments									6,357	(1,795)	0
Total other expenses, net									(675,125)	(171,876)	(10,877)
Net loss from continuing operations									(713,933)	(507,781)	(41,492)
Loss from operations of held for sale assets									0	(34)	(145)
Loss on held for sale properties									0	0	(600)
Net loss from discontinued operations									0	(34)	(745)
Net loss									(713,933)	(507,815)	(42,237)
Assets	1,032,777				7,809,083				1,032,777	7,809,083
Cole Capital Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Transaction service fees									60,672	0	0
Management fees and reimbursements									55,777	0	0
Total Cole Capital revenues									203,558	0	0
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions									66,228	0	0
Acquisition related									3,362	0	0
Merger and other non-routine transactions									1,969	0	0
General and administrative									91,167	0	0
Depreciation and amortization									71,260	0	0
Impairments									309,444	0	0
Total operating expenses									543,430	0	0
Total other expenses, net									42,893	0	0
Net loss									(296,979)	0	0
Dealer-manager Fees, Selling Commissions and Offering Reimbursements Revenues									87,109	0	0
Assets	$ 21,834,806				$ 0				$ 21,834,806	$ 0