Schedule III Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation - Summary of Activity (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) property
Reconciliation of total real estate carrying value for the years ended:
Balance at Beginning of Period	$ 15,027,043,415	$ 13,904,519,436	$ 12,310,846,785
Acquisitions	1,802,745,841	1,531,960,811	1,857,783,837
Less amounts allocated to acquired lease intangible assets and liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets	(89,474,897)	(238,556,294)	(139,341,205)
Improvements, Etc.	23,043,158	11,067,322	16,405,486
Other (Leasing Costs and Building Adjustments as a result of net debt premiums)	2,839,574	1,584,152	1,495,439
Total Additions	1,739,153,676	1,306,055,991	1,736,343,557
Cost of Real Estate sold or disposed of	165,023,825	150,394,756	118,792,948
Cost of Equipment sold	15,650	0	0
Releasing costs	232,089	109,986	418,772
Other (including Provisions for Impairment)	34,323,541	33,027,270	23,459,186
Total Deductions	199,595,105	183,532,012	142,670,906
Balance at Close of Period	16,566,601,986	15,027,043,415	13,904,519,436
Reconciliation of accumulated depreciation for the years ended:
Balance at Beginning of Period	2,350,544,126	2,000,728,517	1,691,963,148
Additions During Period - Provision for Depreciation	432,482,396	393,415,491	355,030,226
Deductions During Period: Accumulated depreciation of real estate and equipment sold or disposed of	59,941,232	43,599,882	46,264,857
Balance at Close of Period	$ 2,723,085,290	$ 2,350,544,126	$ 2,000,728,517
Number of single-tenant properties | property	5,763
Number of corporate headquarters | property	1
Number of properties, Crest Net Lease Inc. | property	6
Number of multi-tenant properties | property	28
Number of properties secured by mortgages | property	60
Unamortized debt premium	$ 4,400,000
Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes	16,597,514,084
Aggregate cost for federal income tax purposes, Crest Net Lease Inc	$ 7,839,284
Number of properties on which provisions for impairment were recorded | property	45	26	39
Adjustments to estimated legal obligations related to asset retirement obligations	$ 8,297	$ 9,774	$ 6,525
Number of buildings with adjustments recorded to estimated legal obligations related to asset retirement obligations | property	2	2	2