Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net cash provided by operating activities	$ 83,885	$ 53,995
Cash flows from investing activities:
Sale of investment securities	118,261	49,296
Maturities of investment securities	1,737	0
Purchase of investment securities	(113,595)	(110,419)
Proceeds from sale or liquidation of long-term investments	148	549
Purchase of long-term investments	(5,000)	(7,000)
Investments in real estate ventures	(34,857)	(12,534)
Distributions from investments in real estate ventures	0	3,539
Increase in cash surrender value of life insurance policies	(1,118)	(395)
Increase in restricted assets	(7,934)	(371)
Issuance of notes receivable	4,410	250
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets	3	4
Capital expenditures	(5,379)	(10,144)
Repayments of notes receivable	1,106	933
Purchase of subsidiaries	0	(250)
Pay downs of investment securities	3,530	0
Proceeds from sale of preferred securities	1,000	0
Investments in real estate held for sale	(12,502)	0
Net cash used in investing activities	(59,010)	(87,042)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of debt	22	413,916
Deferred financing costs	(625)	(12,360)
Repayments of debt	(3,374)	(8,051)
Borrowings under revolver	126,727	429,188
Repayments on revolver	(144,492)	(437,736)
Dividends and distributions on common stock	(92,778)	(80,963)
Distributions to non-controlling interest	0	(3,075)
Proceeds from exercise of Vector options	1,219	3,405
Tax benefit of options exercised	384	680
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(112,917)	305,004
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(88,042)	271,957
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	326,365	234,466
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 238,323	$ 506,423