CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$ 99,857	$ 24,012	$ (156,967)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	145,888	166,076	178,353
Net amortization of debt discounts, premiums and deferred financing fees	1,028	(552)	81
Straight line rental income	(5,255)	(12,759)	(31,229)
Amortization of acquired real estate leases	34,277	51,140	59,274
Other amortization	21,309	20,931	18,850
Share-based compensation	15,425	5,733	0
Loss on asset impairment	17,162	187,305	227,122
(Gain) loss on early extinguishment of debt	(6,661)	(1,564)	61,063
Equity in earnings of investees	0	(24,460)	(25,754)
Gain on sale of equity investments	0	(171,561)	(66,293)
Gain on issuance of shares by an equity investee	0	(17,020)	0
Distributions of earnings from investees	0	20,680	23,911
Foreign currency exchange loss	8,857	0	0
Net (gain) loss on sale of properties	(84,421)	0	20,566
Other non-cash expenses	0	2,402	0
Change in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(6,570)	3,486	(1,832)
Rents receivable and other assets	(47,472)	(30,785)	(57,039)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(4,643)	10,389	(14,333)
Rent collected in advance	(8,462)	(229)	125
Security deposits	1,225	433	611
Due to related persons	0	(9,277)	(1,858)
Cash provided by operating activities	181,544	224,380	234,651
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Real estate acquisitions	0	0	(154,370)
Real estate improvements	(70,633)	(99,651)	(114,451)
Principal payments received from direct financing lease	7,352	7,311	6,970
Principal payments received from real estate mortgages receivable	0	0	1,000
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	1,691,831	185,299	224,976
Purchase of securities	0	23,988	0
Proceeds from sale of securities	27,068	0	0
Proceeds from sale of equity investments, net	0	710,492	239,576
Distributions in excess of earnings from investees	0	0	168
Increase in restricted cash	(6,725)	(8,225)	(9,102)
Deconsolidation of a subsidiary	0	0	(12,286)
Cash provided by investing activities	1,648,893	771,238	182,481
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from issuance of common shares, net	0	0	626,809
Purchase and retirement of common shares	(87,983)	0	0
Repurchase and retirement of outstanding debt securities	0	0	(728,021)
Proceeds from borrowings	0	0	1,036,000
Payments on borrowings	(259,672)	(785,316)	(1,065,432)
Deferred financing fees	(7,143)	0	(1,204)
Distributions to common shareholders	0	(29,597)	(109,702)
Distributions to preferred shareholders	(27,924)	(32,095)	(44,604)
Distributions to noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiary	0	0	(14,863)
Cash used in financing activities	(382,722)	(847,008)	(301,017)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(9,502)	(1,126)	(1,302)
Increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,438,213	147,484	114,813
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	364,516	217,032	102,219
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	1,802,729	364,516	217,032
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest paid	111,324	146,265	192,010
Taxes paid	6,028	2,732	1,303
NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Investment in real estate mortgage receivable	0	0	(7,688)
Net assets transferred to Select Income REIT	0	0	492,736
(Decrease) increase in capital expenditures recorded as liabilities	(13,528)	7,690	(8,475)
Mortgage note payable and interest payable transferred in consensual foreclosure	$ 43,255	$ 0	$ 0