v3.8.0.1
Business Segments - Segment Reporting, Reconciliation of Revenues, Operating Income and Assets (Detail) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2017
Sep. 30, 2016
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues $ 602,874 $ 704,565 $ 1,998,212 $ 1,913,020    
Operating income 175,491 232,624 612,649 504,170    
General and administrative expenses 57,656 58,157 171,350 165,634    
Depreciation and amortization expenses 201,903 224,867 656,639 705,249    
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net 55,066 45,857 172,267 145,622    
Interest expense (64,190) (75,310) (212,456) (232,577)    
Interest and other income, net 4,816 2,932 9,493 7,051    
Foreign currency and derivative losses, net (18,872) (1,730) (46,327) (26,277)    
Gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, net 0 1,492 (30,596) 2,484    
Earnings before income taxes 931,364 323,161 1,464,414 862,436    
Total assets 29,654,150   29,654,150   $ 30,249,932  
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities 5,371,758   5,371,758   4,230,429  
Assets held for sale or contribution 321,905   321,905   322,139  
Notes receivable backed by real estate 0   0   32,100  
Cash and cash equivalents 568,726 375,120 568,726 375,120 807,316 $ 264,080
Other assets 1,392,271   1,392,271   1,496,990  
Operating Segments [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 602,874 704,565 1,998,212 1,913,020    
Operating income 435,050 515,648 1,440,638 1,375,053    
Total assets 23,187,433   23,187,433   24,614,975  
Operating Segments [Member] | Real Estate Operations Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 534,832 561,984 1,692,471 1,665,901    
Operating income 403,004 417,691 1,254,678 1,225,717    
Total assets 23,124,559   23,124,559   24,547,949  
Operating Segments [Member] | Strategic Capital Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 68,042 142,581 305,741 247,119    
Operating income 32,046 97,957 185,960 149,336    
Total assets 62,874   62,874   67,026  
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Real Estate Operations Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 478,718 512,759 1,532,706 1,525,623    
Operating income 363,802 385,837 1,144,176 1,131,340    
Total assets 19,199,770   19,199,770   21,286,422  
Operating Segments [Member] | U.S. [Member] | Strategic Capital Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 17,340 9,940 159,925 28,876    
Operating income 1,645 (577) 103,252 1,959    
Total assets 17,136   17,136   18,090  
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Americas [Member] | Real Estate Operations Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 23,157 15,598 54,690 44,616    
Operating income 16,037 10,417 36,403 29,127    
Total assets 1,857,678   1,857,678   978,476  
Operating Segments [Member] | Other Americas [Member] | Strategic Capital Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 6,061 5,805 21,976 16,884    
Operating income 3,934 2,975 14,666 9,163    
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Real Estate Operations Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 16,369 18,967 56,676 54,975    
Operating income 11,454 13,787 40,713 40,420    
Total assets 1,058,894   1,058,894   1,346,589  
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe [Member] | Strategic Capital Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 26,289 113,577 78,524 161,686    
Operating income 16,497 91,390 49,229 125,460    
Total assets 44,990   44,990   47,635  
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Real Estate Operations Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 16,588 14,660 48,399 40,687    
Operating income 11,711 7,650 33,386 24,830    
Total assets 1,008,217   1,008,217   936,462  
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Strategic Capital Segment [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Total revenues 18,352 13,259 45,316 39,673    
Operating income 9,970 4,169 18,813 12,754    
Total assets 748   748   1,301  
Reconciling Items [Member]            
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]            
Operating income 175,491 232,624 612,649 504,170    
General and administrative expenses 57,656 58,157 171,350 165,634    
Depreciation and amortization expenses 201,903 224,867 656,639 705,249    
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, net 55,066 45,857 172,267 145,622    
Interest expense (64,190) (75,310) (212,456) (232,577)    
Interest and other income, net 4,816 2,932 9,493 7,051    
Gains on dispositions of investments in real estate and revaluation of equity investments upon acquisition of a controlling interest, net 779,053 117,296 959,384 461,963    
Foreign currency and derivative losses, net (18,872) (1,730) (46,327) (26,277)    
Gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt, net 0 $ 1,492 (30,596) $ 2,484    
Total assets 6,466,717   6,466,717   5,634,957  
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities 5,371,758   5,371,758   4,230,429  
Assets held for sale or contribution 321,905   321,905   322,139  
Notes receivable backed by real estate 0   0   32,100  
Cash and cash equivalents 568,726   568,726   807,316  
Other assets $ 204,328   $ 204,328   $ 242,973