Other Investments (Other Investments and Share of Earnings (Loss) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Investee
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	$ 214,406	$ 254,172
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	77,349	32,153	$ 94,905
Net proceeds from sale of other investments	43,936	0	0
Other real estate equity investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	11,600		32,900
Net proceeds from sale of other investments	39,800
Recognized earnings	31,500
Other Strategic Investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	33,350	73,525
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	9,907	8,586	41,477
Equity Method Investee Two
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	11,600		$ 23,400
Equity method Investee Three
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investee \| Investee			1
Oak Hill Funds Group
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	4,300	2,200	$ 9,000
Real Estate Investment
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	181,056	180,647
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	67,442	23,567	53,428
Real Estate Investment \| iStar Net Lease I LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	92,669	69,096
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	3,567	5,221	1,915
Real Estate Investment \| Marina Palms
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	35,185	30,099
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	22,053	23,626	14,671
Real Estate Investment \| Other real estate equity investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Carrying value	53,202	81,452
Earnings (loss) from equity method investments	41,822	$ (5,280)	$ 36,842
Noncontrolling Interests
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Recognized earnings	$ 10,100

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Amount of gain (loss) on sale or disposal of an equity method investment.

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+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The cash inflow associated with the sale of equity method investments, which are investments in joint ventures and entities in which the entity has an equity ownership interest normally of 20 to 50 percent and exercises significant influence.

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