Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Supplemental Disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	$ 343,854	$ 330,652	$ 49,549
Cash paid for income taxes	14,179	7,616	1,711
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Common stock issued in merger with Cole	0	7,285,868	0
Accrued capital expenditures and real estate developments	1,499	6,868	0
Common stock issued through distribution reinvestment plan	0	0	25,568
Accrued distributions	133,817	9,200	0
Mortgage note payable relieved by foreclosure	53,798	0	0
Mortgage notes payable assumed in real estate acquisition	0	301,532	0
Mortgage notes payable assumed in real estate disposition	$ 425,021	$ 461,111	$ 0