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SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT - Summary of Senior Notes Payables and Other Debt (Details) $ in Thousands, $ in Billions	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 CAD ($)	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt instruments
Commercial paper	$ 0			$ 567,450
Deferred financing costs, net	(78,260)			(79,939)
Unamortized fair value adjustment	14,944			20,056
Unamortized discounts	(34,965)			(27,146)
Long-term debt and short-term borrowings, gross	12,628,317			12,245,802
Senior notes payable and other debt	12,530,036			12,158,773
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt instruments
Fair value of amount outstanding	587,206			120,787
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Borrowings Originally Denominated in CAD
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other	12,500			26,200
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Borrowings Originally Denominated in GBP
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other	24,700			27,600
Secured revolving construction credit facility due 2022 \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt instruments
Fair value of amount outstanding	157,156			160,492
Floating Rate, Series F due 2021 [Member]
Debt instruments
Senior notes	221,027			231,018
3.25% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt instruments
Senior notes	500,000			$ 500,000
Interest rate				3.25%
3.30% Senior Notes, Series C due 2022
Debt instruments
Senior notes	184,189			$ 192,515
Interest rate				3.30%
Unsecured Term Loan Due 2023
Debt instruments
Unsecured term loan	200,000			$ 200,000
3.125% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt instruments
Senior notes	400,000			$ 400,000
Interest rate				3.125%
3.10% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt instruments
Senior notes	400,000			$ 400,000
Interest rate				3.10%
2.55% Senior Notes, Series D due 2023
Debt instruments
Senior notes	202,608			$ 211,767
Interest rate				2.55%
3.50% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes	400,000			$ 400,000
Interest rate				3.50%
3.75% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes	400,000			$ 400,000
Interest rate				3.75%
4.125% Senior Notes, Series B due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes	184,189			$ 192,515
Interest rate				4.125%
2.80% Senior Notes, Series E due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes	442,054			$ 462,036
Interest rate				2.80%
Unsecured Term Loan due 2025
Debt instruments
Unsecured term loan	368,378	$ 0.5		$ 385,030
3.50% Senior Notes due 2025
Debt instruments
Senior notes	600,000			$ 600,000
Interest rate				3.50%
2.65% Senior Notes due 2025
Debt instruments
Senior notes	450,000			$ 450,000
Interest rate				2.65%
4.125% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt instruments
Senior notes	500,000			$ 500,000
Interest rate				4.125%
3.25% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt instruments
Senior notes	450,000			$ 450,000
Interest rate				3.25%
3.85% Senior Notes Due 2027
Debt instruments
Senior notes	400,000			$ 400,000
Interest rate				3.85%
4.00% Senior Notes due 2028
Debt instruments
Senior notes	650,000			$ 650,000
Interest rate				4.00%
4.40% Senior Notes due 2029
Debt instruments
Senior notes	750,000			$ 750,000
Interest rate				4.40%
3.00% Senior Notes due 2030
Debt instruments
Senior notes	650,000			$ 650,000
Interest rate				3.00%
4.75% Senior Notes due 2030
Debt instruments
Senior notes	500,000		$ 500,000	$ 0
Interest rate			4.75%	4.75%
6.90% Senior Notes due 2037
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 52,400			$ 52,400
Interest rate	6.90%	6.90%		6.90%
6.59% Senior Notes due 2038
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 22,823			$ 22,823
Interest rate	6.59%	6.59%		6.59%
5.70% Senior Notes due 2043
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 300,000			$ 300,000
Interest rate				5.70%
4.375% Senior Notes due 2045
Debt instruments
Senior notes	300,000			$ 300,000
Interest rate				4.375%
4.875% Senior Notes due 2049
Debt instruments
Senior notes	300,000			$ 300,000
Interest rate				4.875%
Mortgages Loans and Other
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other	$ 2,056,287			$ 1,996,969