Interest expense, net consisted of the following (in thousands): | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | For the Three Months Ended September 30, | | For the Nine Months Ended September 30, | | 2016 | | 2015 | | 2016 | | 2015 | Interest expense (1) | $ | 53,775 |
| | $ | 27,918 |
| | $ | 131,905 |
| | $ | 57,501 |
| Amortization of deferred financing fees | 3,608 |
| | 1,089 |
| | 7,608 |
| | 2,291 |
| Interest income | (3,094 | ) | | (490 | ) | | (6,948 | ) | | (2,100 | ) | Interest expense, net | $ | 54,289 |
| | $ | 28,517 |
| | $ | 132,565 |
| | $ | 57,692 |
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________________________________ | | (1) | Interest expense related to the VIEs was approximately $2.3 million and $7.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, respectively. |
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