Segment Reporting - Schedule of Financial Results by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Revenues:
Rental income										$ 1,227,937	$ 1,339,787	$ 1,271,574
Direct financing lease income										2,055	2,720	3,603
Operating expense reimbursements										105,455	98,628	100,522
Total revenues		$ 351,869	$ 362,915	$ 371,019	$ 369,020	$ 383,374	$ 384,954	$ 393,721	$ 393,968	1,454,823	1,556,017	1,579,257
Operating expenses:
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions										23,174	16,195	66,228
Acquisition related	[1]									1,321	6,243	38,940
Litigation, merger and other non-routine costs, net of insurance recoveries	[2]									3,884	33,628	199,616
Property operating										144,428	130,855	137,741
Management fees to affiliates										0	0	13,888
General and administrative	[3]									136,608	149,066	167,428
Depreciation and amortization										788,186	847,611	916,003
Impairment of real estate										303,751	305,094	409,991
Total operating expenses										1,401,352	1,488,692	1,949,835
Operating income (loss)										53,471	67,325	(370,578)
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense										(317,376)	(358,392)	(452,648)
(Loss) gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net										(771)	4,812	(21,869)
Other income, net										6,035	6,439	88,596
Reserve for loan loss						(15,300)				0	(15,300)	0
Equity in income (loss) and gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities										9,783	9,092	(76)
Loss on derivative instruments, net										(1,191)	(1,460)	(10,570)
Total other expenses, net										(303,520)	(354,809)	(396,567)
Loss before taxes and real estate dispositions										(250,049)	(287,484)	(767,145)
Loss before taxes										(204,525)	(359,795)	(1,044,176)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes										3,701	36,303	33,264
Net loss		(118,223)	$ 30,246	$ 3,233	$ (116,080)	(192,231)	$ 8,141	$ (108,709)	$ (30,693)	(200,824)	(323,492)	(1,010,912)
Total Assets		15,587,574				17,405,866				15,587,574	17,405,866
REI segment [Member]
Revenues:
Rental income										1,227,937	1,339,787	1,271,574
Direct financing lease income										2,055	2,720	3,603
Operating expense reimbursements										105,455	98,628	100,522
Total revenues										1,335,447	1,441,135	1,375,699
Operating expenses:
Acquisition related										1,257	5,649	35,578
Litigation, merger and other non-routine costs, net of insurance recoveries										3,884	33,628	197,647
Property operating										144,428	130,855	137,741
Management fees to affiliates										0	0	13,888
General and administrative										51,265	64,691	76,261
Depreciation and amortization										756,314	817,477	844,743
Impairment of real estate										182,820	91,755	100,547
Total operating expenses										1,139,968	1,144,055	1,406,405
Operating income (loss)										195,479	297,080	(30,706)
Other (expense) income:
Interest expense										(317,376)	(358,392)	(452,648)
(Loss) gain on extinguishment and forgiveness of debt, net										(771)	4,812	(21,869)
Other income, net										5,289	3,953	85,975
Reserve for loan loss										0	(15,300)	0
Equity in income (loss) and gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities										9,783	9,092	(76)
Loss on derivative instruments, net										(1,191)	(1,460)	(10,570)
Total other expenses, net										(304,266)	(357,295)	(399,188)
Loss before taxes and real estate dispositions										(108,787)	(60,215)	(429,894)
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate and held for sale assets, net										45,524	(72,311)	(277,031)
Loss before taxes										(63,263)	(132,526)	(706,925)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes										(6,110)	(3,569)	(7,313)
Net loss										(69,373)	(136,095)	(714,238)
Total Assets		15,337,623				16,966,729				15,337,623	16,966,729
Cole Capital segment [Member]
Revenues:
Offering-related fees and reimbursements										36,533	24,410	87,109
Transaction service fees and reimbursements										12,959	30,109	64,956
Management fees and reimbursements										69,884	60,363	51,493
Total revenues										119,376	114,882	203,558
Operating expenses:
Cole Capital reallowed fees and commissions										23,174	16,195	66,228
Acquisition related										64	594	3,362
Litigation, merger and other non-routine costs, net of insurance recoveries										0	0	1,969
General and administrative										85,343	84,375	91,167
Depreciation and amortization										31,872	30,134	71,260
Impairments										120,931	213,339	309,444
Total operating expenses										261,384	344,637	543,430
Operating income (loss)										(142,008)	(229,755)	(339,872)
Other (expense) income:
Total other expenses, net										746	2,486	2,621
Loss before taxes										(141,262)	(227,269)	(337,251)
(Provision for) benefit from income taxes										9,811	39,872	40,577
Net loss										(131,451)	(187,397)	$ (296,674)
Total Assets		$ 249,951				$ 439,137				$ 249,951	$ 439,137

[1] Includes $1.7 million of expenses paid to affiliates of the Former Manager (as defined in Note 1 – Organization) for the year ended December 31, 2014. No such expenses were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

[2] Includes $137.8 million of expenses paid to affiliates of the Former Manager (as defined in Note 1 – Organization) for the year ended December 31, 2014. No such expenses were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

[3] Includes $16.1 million of expenses paid to affiliates of the Former Manager (as defined in Note 1 – Organization) for the year ended December 31, 2014. No such expenses were incurred during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.