Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Supplemental Disclosures:
Cash paid for interest	$ 317,170	$ 343,854	$ 330,652
Cash paid for income taxes	20,279	14,179	7,616
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Common stock issued in merger with Cole	0	0	7,285,868
Accrued capital expenditures and real estate developments	7,701	1,499	6,868
Accrued deferred financing costs	3	0	0
Distributions declared and unpaid	149,281	133,817	9,200
Accrued equity issuance costs	9	0	0
Mortgage note payable relieved by foreclosure	38,050	53,798	0
Mortgage notes payable assumed in real estate acquisition	0	0	301,532
Mortgage notes payable assumed in real estate disposition	$ 55,000	$ 425,021	$ 461,111