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SENIOR NOTES PAYABLE AND OTHER DEBT - Summary of Senior Notes Payables and Other Debt (Details) $ in Thousands, $ in Billions	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 CAD ($)	Apr. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Debt instruments
Commercial paper	$ 0			$ 567,450
Deferred financing costs, net	(73,444)			(79,939)
Unamortized fair value adjustment	14,008			20,056
Unamortized discounts	(33,312)			(27,146)
Long-term debt and short-term borrowings, gross	12,140,667			12,245,802
Senior notes payable and other debt	12,047,919			12,158,773
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt instruments
Fair value of amount outstanding	41,484			120,787
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Borrowings Originally Denominated in CAD
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other	15,800			26,200
Unsecured revolving credit facility (1) \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Borrowings Originally Denominated in GBP
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other	25,700			27,600
Secured revolving construction credit facility due 2022 \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt instruments
Fair value of amount outstanding	164,585			160,492
Floating Rate, Series F due 2021 [Member]
Debt instruments
Senior notes	225,242			231,018
3.25% Senior Notes due 2022
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 500,000			500,000
Interest rate	3.25%	3.25%
3.30% Senior Notes, Series C due 2022
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 187,702			192,515
Interest rate	3.30%	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%	3.125%
3.10% Senior Notes due 2023
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 400,000			400,000
Interest rate	3.10%	3.10%
2.55% Senior Notes, Series D due 2023
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 206,472			211,767
Interest rate	2.55%	2.55%
3.50% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 400,000			400,000
Interest rate	3.50%	3.50%
3.75% Senior Notes due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 400,000			400,000
Interest rate	3.75%	3.75%
4.125% Senior Notes, Series B due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 187,702			192,515
Interest rate	4.125%	4.125%
2.80% Senior Notes, Series E due 2024
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 450,484			462,036
Interest rate	2.80%	2.80%
Unsecured Term Loan due 2025
Debt instruments
Unsecured term loan	$ 375,404	$ 0.5		385,030
3.50% Senior Notes due 2025
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 600,000			600,000
Interest rate	3.50%	3.50%
2.65% Senior Notes due 2025
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 450,000			450,000
Interest rate	2.65%	2.65%
4.125% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 500,000			500,000
Interest rate	4.125%	4.125%
3.25% Senior Notes due 2026
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 450,000			450,000
Interest rate	3.25%	3.25%
3.85% Senior Notes Due 2027
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 400,000			400,000
Interest rate	3.85%	3.85%
4.00% Senior Notes due 2028
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 650,000			650,000
Interest rate	4.00%	4.00%
4.40% Senior Notes due 2029
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 750,000			750,000
Interest rate	4.40%	4.40%
3.00% Senior Notes due 2030
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 650,000			650,000
Interest rate	3.00%	3.00%
4.75% Senior Notes due 2030
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 500,000		$ 500,000	0
Interest rate	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
6.90% Senior Notes due 2037
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 52,400			52,400
Interest rate	6.90%	6.90%
6.59% Senior Notes due 2038
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 22,823			22,823
Interest rate	6.59%	6.59%
5.70% Senior Notes due 2043
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 300,000			300,000
Interest rate	5.70%	5.70%
4.375% Senior Notes due 2045
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 300,000			300,000
Interest rate	4.375%	4.375%
4.875% Senior Notes due 2049
Debt instruments
Senior notes	$ 300,000			300,000
Interest rate	4.875%	4.875%
Mortgages Loans and Other
Debt instruments
Mortgage loans and other	$ 2,076,369			$ 1,996,969