CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	$ (1,010,912)	$ (507,815)	$ (42,237)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Issuance of OP Units	92,884	107,771	0
Depreciation and amortization	1,007,164	238,307	43,152
Loss on held for sale assets and disposition of properties, net	277,031	0	600
Impairments	409,991	3,346	0
Equity-based compensation	31,861	100,261	1,230
Loss on sale of investments in affiliates	77	0	0
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	8,335	0	0
Loss on derivative instruments	10,570	(1,739)	0
(Gain) loss on sale of investments, net	6,357	(2,206)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(14,012)	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of Series C Stock	0	13,749	0
Note receivable issued in legal settlement	15,300	0	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,597	2,505	0
Deferred costs, intangible and other assets, net	(97,125)	(19,851)	(5,089)
Due from affiliates	(32,821)	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(16,279)	20,789	8,277
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(99,930)	8,555	3,507
Due to affiliates	(43,887)	43,834	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	502,887	11,918	9,440
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate and other assets	(3,539,906)	(3,520,412)	(1,659,536)
Acquisition of a real estate business, net of cash acquired	(756,232)	(878,898)	0
Investment in direct financing leases	0	(68,617)	0
Capital expenditures	(34,687)	(9,755)	(54)
Real estate developments	(72,515)	0	0
Principal repayments received from borrowers	77,614	442	0
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(2,500)	0	0
Proceeds from disposition of properties	1,598,767	0	553
Investment in leasehold improvements, property and equipment	(11,890)	(543)	0
Deposits for real estate investments	(265,372)	(101,887)	(638)
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate investments	347,971	0	0
Purchases of investment securities	0	(81,590)	(41,747)
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(125,000)	0	0
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	81,100	0	0
Investment in loans held for investment	(2,952)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities	159,752	119,542	0
Change in restricted cash	(8,606)	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,554,456)	(4,541,718)	(1,701,422)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	1,010,219	6,924	229,798
Payments on mortgage notes payable	(1,143,503)	(5,711)	0
Payments on other debt	(112,003)	(9,368)	0
Proceeds from credit facilities	5,824,000	2,678,800	82,319
Payments on credit facilities	(5,918,800)	(954,604)	(122)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	2,545,760	0	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(116,373)	(101,196)	(13,974)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible debt	0	967,786	0
Common stock repurchases	(7,690)	(359,193)	(1,534)
Proceeds from issuances of preferred shares	0	0	9,000
Cash payment on settlement of Series C Stock	0	(441,353)	0
Proceeds from issuances of common stock, net offering costs	1,595,045	1,993,159	1,691,412
Redemption of Series D Preferred Stock	(316,126)	0	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	982	30,861	7,375
Distributions to non-controlling interest holders	(30,150)	(8,219)	(663)
Distributions paid	(920,264)	(234,897)	(37,673)
Windfall tax benefits related to equity-based compensation	4,458	0	0
Payments from affiliates, net	0	(376)	396
Change in restricted cash			(1,108)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,415,555	4,289,950	1,965,226
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	363,986	(239,850)	273,244
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	52,725	292,575
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	416,711	52,725	292,575
Supplemental Disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	330,652	49,549	8,983
Cash paid for income taxes	7,616	1,711	173
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
OP units issued to acquire real estate investments	0	0	6,352
Accrued capital expenditures and real estate developments	6,868	0	0
Common stock issued through distribution reinvestment plan	0	25,568	27,136
ARC Properties Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss	(1,010,912)	(507,815)	(42,237)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Issuance of OP Units	92,884	107,771	0
Depreciation and amortization	1,007,164	238,307	43,152
Loss on held for sale assets and disposition of properties, net	277,031	0	600
Impairments	409,991	3,346	0
Equity-based compensation	31,861	100,261	1,230
Loss on sale of investments in affiliates	77	0	0
Distributions from unconsolidated entities	8,335	0	0
Loss on derivative instruments	10,570	(1,739)	0
(Gain) loss on sale of investments, net	6,357	(2,206)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(14,012)	0	0
Loss on extinguishment of Series C Stock	0	13,749	0
Note receivable issued in legal settlement	15,300	0	0
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Investment in direct financing leases	1,597	2,505	0
Deferred costs, intangible and other assets, net	(97,125)	(19,851)	(5,089)
Due from affiliates	(32,821)	0	0
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(16,279)	20,789	8,277
Deferred rent, derivative and other liabilities	(99,930)	8,555	3,507
Due to affiliates	(43,887)	43,834	0
Net cash provided by operating activities	502,887	11,918	9,440
Cash flows from investing activities:
Investments in real estate and other assets	(3,539,906)	(3,520,412)	(1,659,536)
Acquisition of a real estate business, net of cash acquired	(756,232)	(878,898)	0
Investment in direct financing leases	0	(68,617)	0
Capital expenditures	(34,687)	(9,755)	(54)
Real estate developments	(72,515)	0	0
Principal repayments received from borrowers	77,614	442	0
Investments in unconsolidated entities	(2,500)	0	0
Proceeds from disposition of properties	1,598,767	0	553
Investment in leasehold improvements, property and equipment	(11,890)	(543)	0
Deposits for real estate investments	(265,372)	(101,887)	(638)
Uses and refunds of deposits for real estate investments	347,971	0	0
Purchases of investment securities	0	(81,590)	(41,747)
Line of credit advances to affiliates	(125,000)	0	0
Line of credit repayments from affiliates	81,100	0	0
Investment in loans held for investment	(2,952)	0	0
Proceeds from sale of investment securities	159,752	119,542	0
Change in restricted cash	(8,606)	0	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,554,456)	(4,541,718)	(1,701,422)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from mortgage notes payable	1,010,219	6,924	229,798
Payments on mortgage notes payable	(1,143,503)	(5,711)	0
Payments on other debt	(112,003)	(9,368)	0
Proceeds from credit facilities	5,824,000	2,678,800	82,319
Payments on credit facilities	(5,918,800)	(954,604)	(122)
Proceeds from corporate bonds	2,545,760	0	0
Payments of deferred financing costs	(116,373)	(101,196)	(13,974)
Proceeds from issuance of convertible debt	0	967,786	0
Common stock repurchases	(7,690)	(359,193)	(1,534)
Proceeds from issuances of preferred shares	0	0	9,000
Cash payment on settlement of Series C Stock	0	(441,353)	0
Proceeds from issuances of common stock, net offering costs	1,595,045	1,993,159	1,691,412
Redemption of Series D Preferred Stock	(316,126)	0	0
Contributions from non-controlling interest holders	982	30,861	7,375
Distributions to non-controlling interest holders	(30,150)	(8,219)	(663)
Distributions paid	(920,264)	(234,897)	(37,673)
Windfall tax benefits related to equity-based compensation	4,458	0	0
Payments from affiliates, net	0	(376)	396
Change in restricted cash	0	(5,654)	(1,108)
Net cash provided by financing activities	2,415,555	4,289,950	1,965,226
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	363,986	(239,850)	273,244
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	52,725	292,575	19,331
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	416,711	52,725	292,575
Supplemental Disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	330,652	49,549	8,983
Cash paid for income taxes	7,616	1,711	173
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
OP units issued to acquire real estate investments	0	0	6,352
Accrued capital expenditures and real estate developments	6,868	0	0
Common stock issued through distribution reinvestment plan	0	25,568	27,136
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock	0	445,000	0
Series C Preferred Stock [Member] | ARC Properties Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock	0	445,000	0
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock	0	287,991	0
Series D Preferred Stock [Member] | ARC Properties Operating Partnership, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible preferred stock	$ 0	$ 287,991	$ 0