W. P. Carey (WPC) 10-Q18 May 152015 Q1 Quarterly reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information	Mar. 31, 2015	8-May-15
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	W. P. Carey Inc.
Entity Central Index Key	1025378
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-15
Amendment Flag	FALSE
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2015
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Current Fiscal Year End Date	-19
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		104,337,911

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Un

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments in real estate:
Real estate, at cost (inclusive of $183,540 and $184,417, respectively, attributable to variable interest entities, or VIEs)	$5,159,139	$5,006,682
Operating real estate, at cost (inclusive of $38,714 and $38,714, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	84,915	84,885
Accumulated depreciation (inclusive of $21,740 and $19,982, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	-286,953	-258,493
Net investments in properties	4,957,101	4,833,074
Net investments in direct financing leases (inclusive of $59,133 and $61,609, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	766,920	816,226
Assets held for sale	0	7,255
Net investments in real estate	5,724,021	5,656,555
Cash and cash equivalents (inclusive of $1,381 and $2,652, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	207,391	198,683
Equity investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	249,088	249,403
Due from affiliates	51,200	34,477
Goodwill	682,623	692,415
In-place lease and tenant relationship intangible assets, net (inclusive of $20,264 and $21,267, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	953,458	993,819
Above-market rent intangible assets, net (inclusive of $13,275 and $13,767, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	510,686	522,797
Other assets, net (inclusive of $19,377 and $18,603, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	352,063	300,330
Total assets	8,730,530	8,648,479
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt, net (inclusive of $123,595 and $125,226, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	2,420,620	2,532,683
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility - Revolver	186,131	807,518
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility - Term Loan	250,000	250,000
Senior Unsecured Notes, net	1,479,473	498,345
Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, net (inclusive of $8,847 and $9,305, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	174,126	175,070
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (inclusive of $4,315 and $5,573, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	298,217	293,846
Deferred income taxes (inclusive of $516 and $587, respectively, attributable to VIEs)	95,987	94,133
Distributions payable	101,350	100,078
Total liabilities	5,005,904	4,751,673
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	13,374	6,071
Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)
W. P. Carey stockholdersâ€™ equity:
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; none issued	0	0
Common Stock, $0.001 par value, 450,000,000 shares authorized; 105,381,839 and 105,085,069 shares issued, respectively; and 104,337,423 and 104,040,653 shares outstanding, respectively	105	105
Additional paid-in capital	4,292,781	4,322,273
Distributions in excess of accumulated earnings	-537,525	-465,606
Deferred compensation obligation	56,749	30,624
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-174,933	-75,559
Less: treasury stock at cost, 1,044,416 shares	-60,948	-60,948
Total W. P. Carey stockholdersâ€™ equity	3,576,229	3,750,889
Noncontrolling interests	135,023	139,846
Total equity	3,711,252	3,890,735
Total liabilities and equity	$8,730,530	$8,648,479

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Un1

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments in real estate:
Real estates, at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	$5,159,139	$5,006,682
Operating real estate, at cost attributable to VIEs	84,915	84,885
Accumulated depreciation attributable to consolidated VIEs	286,953	258,493
Net investments in direct financing leases	766,920	816,226
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to consolidated VIEs	207,391	198,683
In-place lease, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	953,458	993,819
Above-market rent, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	510,686	522,797
Other assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	352,063	300,330
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt attributable to consolidated VIEs	2,420,620	2,532,683
Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	174,126	175,070
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities attributable to consolidated VIEs	298,217	293,846
Deferred income taxes attributable to consolidated VIEs	95,987	94,133
W. P. Carey stockholdersâ€™ equity:
Preferred stock, par share value	$0.00	$0.00
Preferred stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, per share value	$0.00	$0.00
Common stock, shares authorized	450,000,000	450,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	105,381,839	105,085,069
Common stock, shares outstanding	104,337,423	104,040,653
Treasury stock, shares	1,044,416	1,044,416
Variable Interest Entity
Investments in real estate:
Real estates, at cost attributable to consolidated VIEs	183,540	184,417
Operating real estate, at cost attributable to VIEs	38,714	38,714
Accumulated depreciation attributable to consolidated VIEs	21,740	19,982
Net investments in direct financing leases	59,133	61,609
Cash and cash equivalents attributable to consolidated VIEs	1,381	2,652
In-place lease, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	20,264	21,267
Above-market rent, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	13,275	13,767
Other assets, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	19,377	18,603
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt attributable to consolidated VIEs	123,595	125,226
Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, net attributable to consolidated VIEs	8,847	9,305
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities attributable to consolidated VIEs	4,315	5,573
Deferred income taxes attributable to consolidated VIEs	$516	$587

Consolidated_Statements_of_Inc

Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Real estate revenues:
Lease revenues	$160,165	$123,068
Operating property revenues	7,112	4,991
Reimbursable tenant costs	5,939	6,014
Lease termination income and other	3,209	1,187
Total real estate revenue	176,425	135,260
Revenues from the Managed Programs:
Structuring revenue	21,720	17,750
Asset management revenue	11,159	9,777
Reimbursable costs	9,607	39,732
Dealer manager fees	1,274	6,676
Incentive, termination and subordinated disposition revenue	203	0
Revenue from affiliates	43,963	73,935
Total revenues	220,388	209,195
Operating Expenses
Depreciation and amortization	65,400	52,673
General and administrative	29,768	22,671
Reimbursable tenant and affiliate costs	15,546	45,746
Property expenses, excluding reimbursable tenant costs	9,364	8,415
Stock-based compensation expense	7,009	7,043
Merger and property acquisition expenses	5,676	29,614
Impairment charges	2,683	0
Subadvisor fees	2,661	18
Dealer manager fees and expenses	2,372	5,425
Total operating expenses	140,479	171,605
Other Income and Expenses
Interest expense	-47,949	-39,075
Other income and (expenses)	-4,306	-5,640
Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	11,723	14,262
Gain on change in control of interests	0	105,947
Total other income and expenses	-40,532	75,494
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and gain on sale of real estate	39,377	113,084
Provision for income taxes	-1,980	-2,253
Income from continuing operations before gain on sale of real estate	37,397	110,831
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	6,406
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185	81
Net Income	38,582	117,318
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-2,466	-1,578
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	-262
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	36,116	115,478
Basic Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$0.34	$1.21
Income from discontinued operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$0	$0.08
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$0.34	$1.29
Diluted Earnings Per Share
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$0.34	$1.20
Income from discontinued operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$0	$0.07
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$0.34	$1.27
Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding
Basic (in shares)	105,303,679	89,366,055
Diluted (in shares)	106,109,877	90,375,311
Amounts Attributable to W. P. Carey
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	36,116	108,937
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	6,541
Net Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	$36,116	$115,478
Distributions Declared Per Share	$0.95	$0.90

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$38,582	$117,318
Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-131,349	4,545
Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments	26,818	-2,797
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	14	17
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	-104,517	1,765
Comprehensive (Loss) Income	-65,935	119,083
Amounts Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-2,466	-1,578
Foreign currency translation adjustments	5,143	336
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	2,677	-1,242
Amounts Attributable to Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	-262
Foreign currency translation adjustments	0	-6
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	-256
Comprehensive (Loss) Income Attributable to W. P. Carey	($63,258)	$117,585

Consolidated_Statement_of_Equi

Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $)	Total	$0.001 Par Value Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Deferred Compensation Obligation	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Total W.P. Carey Members	Noncontrolling interest
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	$0.001 Par Value Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Earnings	Deferred Compensation Obligation	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Total W.P. Carey Members	Noncontrolling interest
Balance - beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2013	$2,202,731	$69	$2,256,503	($318,577)	$11,354	$15,336	($60,270)	$1,904,415	$298,316
Beginning equity balance - shares at Dec. 31, 2013		68,266,570
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Exercise of stock options, value	91		91					91
Exercise of stock options, shares		2,961
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:16 in connection with the CPA:16 Merger, value	1,815,521	31	1,815,490					1,815,521
Shares issued to stockholders of CPA:16 in connection with the CPA:16 Merger, shares		30,729,878
Purchase of the remaining interests in less-than-wholly-owned investments that we already consolidate in connection with the CPAÂ®:16 Merger	-281,577		-42,015					-42,015	-239,562
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in connection with the CPAÂ®:16 Merger	99,469							0	99,469
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares, value	-15,735		-15,735					-15,735
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares		352,188
Shares issued under share incentive plans, value	-146		-146					-146
Shares issued under share incentive plans, shares		7,735
Deferral of vested shares	0		-14,146		14,146			0
Windfall tax benefits - share incentive plan	5,449		5,449					5,449
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	7,043		7,043					7,043
Redemption value adjustment	306		306					306
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-6,045								-6,045
Distributions declared	-90,093		3,179	-97,114	3,842			-90,093
Purchase of treasury stock from related party, value	-678						-678	-678
Purchase of treasury stock from related party, shares		-11,037
Foreign currency translation	-7								-7
Net income	117,056			115,478				115,478	1,578
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	4,551					4,887		4,887	-336
Realized and unrealized gain on derivative instruments	-2,797					-2,797		-2,797
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	17					17		17
Balance - end of period at Mar. 31, 2014	3,855,156	100	4,016,019	-300,213	29,342	17,443	-60,948	3,701,743	153,413
Ending equity balance - shares at Mar. 31, 2014		99,348,295
Balance - beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2014	3,890,735	105	4,322,273	-465,606	30,624	-75,559	-60,948	3,750,889	139,846
Beginning equity balance - shares at Dec. 31, 2014	104,040,653	104,040,653
W.P. Carey Stockholders
Exercise of stock options, value			0
Exercise of stock options, shares		3
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares, value	-14,533		-14,533					-14,533
Grants issued in connection with services rendered, shares		279,621
Shares issued under share incentive plans, value	-717		-717					-717
Shares issued under share incentive plans, shares		17,146
Deferral of vested shares	0		-24,288		24,288
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	208								208
Windfall tax benefits - share incentive plan	5,276		5,276					5,276
Amortization of stock-based compensation expense	7,009		7,009					7,009
Redemption value adjustment	-7,303		-7,303					-7,303
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-2,354								-2,354
Distributions declared	-101,134		5,064	-108,035	1,837			-101,134
Net income	38,582			36,116				36,116	2,466
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments	-131,349					-126,206		-126,206	-5,143
Realized and unrealized gain on derivative instruments	26,818					26,818		26,818
Change in unrealized gain on marketable securities	14					14		14
Balance - end of period at Mar. 31, 2015	$3,711,252	$105	$4,292,781	($537,525)	$56,749	($174,933)	($60,948)	$3,576,229	$135,023
Ending equity balance - shares at Mar. 31, 2015	104,337,423	104,337,423

Consolidated_Statement_of_Equi1

Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Per shares distributions declared	$0.95	$0.90

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Cash Flows â€” Operating Activities
Net income	$38,582	$117,318
Adjustments to net income:
Depreciation and amortization, including intangible assets and deferred financing costs	66,994	57,557
Straight-line rent and amortization of rent-related intangibles	10,364	10,497
Stock-based compensation expense	7,009	7,043
Realized and unrealized (loss) gain on foreign currency transactions, derivatives, extinguishment of debt and other	-5,941	718
Management income received in shares of Managed REITs and other	-4,988	-8,207
Impairment charges	2,683	0
Gain on sale of real estate	-1,185	-3,176
Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate in excess of distributions received	331	-1,222
Gain on change in control of interests	0	-105,947
Amortization of deferred revenue	0	-786
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Payments for withholding taxes upon delivery of equity-based awards and exercises of stock options	-15,250	-15,882
Deferred acquisition revenue received	8,738	6,469
Increase in structuring revenue receivable	-6,645	-8,121
Net changes in other operating assets and liabilities	-33,319	-12,565
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	67,373	43,696
Cash Flows â€” Investing Activities
Purchases of real estate	-385,603	-40,986
Proceeds from sale of real estate	13,119	105,095
Capital expenditures on owned real estate	-10,789	-2,152
Proceeds from repayment of note receivable	9,970	0
Change in investing restricted cash	6,852	3,646
Distributions received from equity investments in the Managed Programs and real estate in excess of equity income	1,473	7,970
Capital expenditures on corporate assets	-882	-3,342
Other investing activities, net	489	334
Proceeds from repayment of short-term loan to affiliate	0	1,080
Cash acquired in connection with the CPAÂ®:16 Merger	0	65,429
Purchase of securities	0	-7,664
Cash paid to stockholders of CPAÂ®:16 â€“ Global in the CPAÂ®:16 Merger	0	-1,338
Capital contributions to equity investments	0	-453
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities	-365,371	127,619
Cash Flows â€” Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of Senior Unsecured Notes	1,022,303	498,195
Repayments of Senior Unsecured Credit Facility	-877,685	-1,280,000
Proceeds from Senior Unsecured Credit Facility	291,206	901,383
Distributions paid	-99,860	-68,159
Scheduled payments of mortgage principal	-18,247	-16,711
Payment of financing costs	-10,501	-11,894
Proceeds from mortgage financing	8,277	5,110
Windfall tax benefit associated with stock-based compensation awards	5,276	5,449
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	-2,354	-6,131
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	208	123
Change in financing restricted cash	175	-428
Prepayments of mortgage principal	0	-116,816
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0	91
Purchase of treasury stock from related party	0	-678
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities	318,798	-90,466
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents During the Period
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	-12,092	579
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	8,708	81,428
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	198,683	117,519
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$207,391	$198,947

Business_and_Organization

Business and Organization	3 Months Ended
Business and Organization	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Business and Organization	Business and Organization

	W. P. Carey Inc., or W. P. Carey, is, together with its consolidated subsidiaries and predecessors, a real estate investment trust, or REIT, that provides long-term financing via sale-leaseback and build-to-suit transactions for companies worldwide and manages a global investment portfolio. We invest primarily in commercial properties domestically and internationally. We earn revenue principally by leasing the properties we own to single corporate tenants, primarily on a triple-net lease basis, which generally requires each tenant to pay substantially all of the costs associated with operating and maintaining the property. Through our taxable REIT subsidiaries, or TRSs, we also earn revenue as the advisor to publicly-owned, non-listed REITs, which are sponsored by us under the Corporate Property Associates, or CPA®, brand name that invest in similar properties. At March 31, 2015, we were the advisor to Corporate Property Associates 17 – Global Incorporated, or CPA®:17 – Global, and Corporate Property Associates 18 – Global Incorporated, or CPA®:18 – Global. We were also the advisor to Corporate Property Associates 16 – Global Incorporated, or CPA®:16 – Global, until its merger with us on January 31, 2014. We refer to CPA®:16 – Global, CPA®:17 – Global and CPA®:18 – Global together as the CPA® REITs. At March 31, 2015, we were also the advisor to Carey Watermark Investors Incorporated, or CWI (and also referred to as CWI 1), and Carey Watermark Investors 2 Incorporated, or CWI 2, two publicly-owned, non-listed REITs that invest in lodging and lodging-related properties. We refer to CWI, together with the CPA® REITs, as the Managed REITs (Note 4). We also have invested in Carey Credit Income Fund, or CCIF, a newly formed business development company, or BDC (Note 7), with a third-party investment partner.

	In September 2014, two feeder funds, which are also BDCs, each filed registration statements on Form N-2 with the SEC to sell up to 50,000,000 shares and 21,000,000 shares, respectively, of their beneficial interests in initial public offerings, with the proceeds to be invested in shares of CCIF. We serve as the advisor to CCIF. We refer to CCIF and the two feeder funds collectively as the Managed BDCs and, together with the Managed REITs, as the Managed Programs. As of the date of this Report, the registration statements, as amended, have not been declared effective by the SEC and there can be no assurance as to whether or when such offerings would be commenced.

	Originally founded in 1973, we reorganized as a REIT in September 2012 in connection with our merger with Corporate Property Associates 15 Incorporated, or CPA®:15. We refer to that merger as the CPA®:15 Merger. Our shares of common stock are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “WPC.”

	On January 31, 2014, CPA®:16 – Global merged with and into us based on a merger agreement, dated as of July 25, 2013 (Note 3). We refer to that merger as the CPA®:16 Merger.

	We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under Section 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, we are not generally subject to United States federal income taxation other than from our TRSs as long as we satisfy certain requirements, principally relating to the nature of our income and the level of our distributions, as well as other factors. We hold all of our real estate assets attributable to our Real Estate Ownership segment under the REIT structure, while the activities conducted by our Investment Management segment subsidiaries have been organized under TRSs.

	Reportable Segments

	Real Estate Ownership — We own and invest in commercial properties principally in the United States, Europe, and Asia that are then leased to companies, primarily on a triple-net lease basis. We have also invested in several operating properties, such as lodging and self-storage properties. We earn lease revenues from our wholly-owned and co-owned real estate investments that we control. In addition, we generate equity income through co-owned real estate investments that we do not control and through our ownership of shares of the Managed REITs (Note 7). Through our special member interests in the operating partnerships of the Managed REITs, we also participate in their cash flows (Note 4). At March 31, 2015, our owned portfolio was comprised of our full or partial ownership interests in 852 properties, substantially all of which were net leased to 219 tenants, with an occupancy rate of 98.4%, and totaled approximately 89.2 million square feet.

	Investment Management — Through our TRSs, we structure and negotiate investments and debt placement transactions for the Managed REITs, for which we earn structuring revenue, and manage their portfolios of real estate investments, for which we earn asset-based management revenue. We earn disposition revenue when we negotiate and structure the sale of properties on behalf of the Managed REITs, and we may also earn incentive revenue and receive other compensation in connection with providing liquidity events for the Managed REITs’ stockholders. Collectively, at March 31, 2015, CPA®:17 – Global and CPA®:18 – Global owned all or a portion of 409 properties, including certain properties in which we have an ownership interest. Substantially all of these properties, totaling approximately 45.0 million square feet, were net leased to 183 tenants, with an average occupancy rate of approximately 99.9%. The Managed REITs also had interests in 126 operating properties for an aggregate of approximately13.9 million square feet at March 31, 2015. We have begun to explore alternatives for expanding our investment management operations by raising funds beyond advising the existing Managed REITs. Any such expansion could involve the purchase of properties or other investments as principal, either for our owned portfolio or with the intention of transferring such investments to a newly-created fund, as well as the sponsorship of one or more funds to make investments other than primarily net lease investments, such as CWI, CWI 2 and the BDCs. These new funds could invest primarily in assets other than net-lease real estate and could include funds raised through publicly traded vehicles, either in the United States or internationally.

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Presentation	Basis of Presentation

	Basis of Presentation

	Our interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and, therefore, do not necessarily include all information and footnotes necessary for a fair statement of our consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP.

	In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the interim periods presented in this Report reflects all normal and recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Our interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes for the year ended December 31, 2014, which are included in the 2014 Annual Report, as certain disclosures that would substantially duplicate those contained in the audited consolidated financial statements have not been included in this Report. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire year.

	The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and the disclosure of contingent amounts in our consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

	Basis of Consolidation

	Our consolidated financial statements reflect all of our accounts, including those of our controlled subsidiaries and our tenancy-in-common interests as described below. The portion of equity in a consolidated subsidiary that is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to us is presented as noncontrolling interests. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

	We have an investment in a tenancy-in-common interest in various underlying international properties. Consolidation of this
	investment is not required as such interest does not qualify as a VIE and does not meet the control requirement for consolidation. Accordingly, we account for this investment using the equity method of accounting. We use the equity method of
	accounting because the shared decision-making involved in a tenancy-in-common interest investment provides us with
	significant influence on the operating and financial decisions of this investment. We also have certain investments in wholly-owned tenancy-in-common interests, which we now consolidate after we obtained the remaining interests in the CPA®:16
	Merger.

	At March 31, 2015, we had 18 VIEs. We apply accounting guidance for consolidation of VIEs to certain entities in which the equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Fixed price purchase and renewal options within a lease as well as certain decision-making rights within a loan can cause us to consider an entity a VIE.

	Additionally, we own interests in single-tenant, net-leased properties leased to companies through noncontrolling interests in partnerships and limited liability companies that we do not control but over which we exercise significant influence. We account for these investments under the equity method of accounting. At times, the carrying value of our equity investments may fall below zero for certain investments. We intend to fund our share of the investments’ future operating deficits should the need arise. However, we have no legal obligation to pay for any of the liabilities of such investments nor do we have any legal obligation to fund operating deficits. At March 31, 2015, none of our equity investments had carrying values below zero.

	In June 2014, CWI 2 filed a registration statement on Form S-11 with the SEC to sell up to $1.0 billion of common stock in an initial public offering plus up to an additional $400.0 million of its common stock under a dividend reinvestment plan. In January 2015, CWI 2 amended the registration statement to increase the offering size to $1.4 billion of its class A common stock plus up to an additional $600.0 million of its class A common stock through its dividend reinvestment plan. The registration statement was declared effective by the SEC on February 9, 2015. An amended registration statement adding the class T shares was declared effective by the SEC on April 13, 2015, so that the offering amounts noted can be in any combination of class A or class T shares. Through March 31, 2015, the financial activity of CWI 2, which had no significant assets, liabilities, or operations, was included in our consolidated financial statements. On May 15, 2015, upon CWI 2 reaching its minimum offering proceeds and admitting new stockholders, we deconsolidated CWI 2 and began to account for our interests in it under the equity method.

	Reclassifications

	Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The consolidated financial
	statements included in this Report have been retrospectively adjusted to reflect the disposition of certain properties as discontinued operations and certain adjustments related to purchase price allocation for all periods presented.

	Recent Accounting Requirements

	The following Accounting Standards Updates, or ASUs, promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board are applicable to us:

	ASU 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30). ASU 2015-03 changes the presentation of debt issuance costs, which are currently recognized as a deferred charge (that is, an asset) and requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 does not affect the recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs. ASU 2015-03 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015, early adoption is permitted and retrospective application is required. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2015-03 on our consolidated financial statements

	ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 does not apply to our lease revenues, but will apply to reimbursed tenant costs and revenues generated from our operating properties and our Investment Management business. Additionally, this guidance modifies disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a proposed ASU to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. Under the proposal, ASU 2014-09 would be effective beginning in 2018, and early adoption is permitted but not before 2017, the original public company effective date. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the method by which we will adopt the standard.

Merger_with_CPA16_Global

Merger with CPAÂ®:16 â€“ Global	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Merger with CPA 16 - Global	Merger with CPA®:16 – Global

	On July 25, 2013, we and CPA®:16 – Global entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which CPA®:16 – Global would merge with and into one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, subject to the approval of our stockholders and the stockholders of CPA®:16 – Global. On January 24, 2014, our stockholders and the stockholders of CPA®:16 – Global each approved the CPA®:16 Merger, and the CPA®:16 Merger closed on January 31, 2014.

	In the CPA®:16 Merger, CPA®:16 – Global stockholders received 0.1830 shares of our common stock in exchange for each share of CPA®:16 – Global stock owned, pursuant to an exchange ratio based upon a value of $11.25 per share of CPA®:16 – Global and the volume weighted-average trading price of our common stock for the five consecutive trading days ending on the third trading day preceding the closing of the transaction on January 31, 2014. CPA®:16 – Global stockholders received cash in lieu of any fractional shares in the CPA®:16 Merger. We paid total merger consideration of approximately $1.8 billion, including the issuance of 30,729,878 shares of our common stock with a fair value of $1.8 billion based on the closing price of our common stock on January 31, 2014, of $59.08 per share, to the stockholders of CPA®:16 – Global in exchange for the 168,041,772 shares of CPA®:16 – Global common stock that we and our affiliates did not previously own, and cash of $1.3 million paid in lieu of issuing any fractional shares, or collectively, the Merger Consideration. As a condition of the CPA®:16 Merger, we waived the subordinated disposition and termination fees that we would have been entitled to receive from CPA®:16 – Global upon its liquidation pursuant to the terms of our advisory agreement with CPA®:16 – Global (Note 4).

	Immediately prior to the CPA®:16 Merger, CPA®:16 – Global’s portfolio was comprised of the consolidated full or partial interests in 325 leased properties, substantially all of which were triple-net leased with an average remaining life of 10.4 years and an estimated contractual minimum annualized base rent, or ABR, totaling $300.1 million, and two hotel properties. The related property-level debt was comprised of 92 fixed-rate and 18 variable-rate non-recourse mortgage loans with an aggregate fair value of approximately $1.8 billion and a weighted-average annual interest rate of 5.6% at that date. Additionally, CPA®:16 – Global had a line of credit with an outstanding balance of $170.0 million on the date of the closing of the CPA®:16 Merger. In addition, CPA®:16 – Global had equity interests in 18 unconsolidated investments, 11 of which were consolidated by us prior to the CPA®:16 Merger, five of which were consolidated by us subsequent to the CPA®:16 Merger, and two of which were jointly-owned with CPA®:17 – Global. These investments owned 140 properties, substantially all of which were triple-net leased with an average remaining life of 8.6 years and an estimated ABR totaling $63.9 million, as of January 31, 2014. The debt related to these equity investments was comprised of 17 fixed-rate and five variable-rate non-recourse mortgage loans with an aggregate fair value of approximately $0.3 billion and a weighted-average annual interest rate of 4.8% on January 31, 2014. The lease revenues and income from continuing operations from the properties acquired from the date of the CPA®:16 Merger through March 31, 2014 were $45.8 million and $12.5 million (inclusive of $0.2 million attributable to noncontrolling interests), respectively.

	During 2014, we sold all ten of the properties that were classified as held-for-sale upon acquisition in connection with the CPA®:16 Merger (Note 15). The results of operations for all ten of these properties have been included in Income from discontinued operations, net of tax in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, we sold one property subject to a direct financing lease that we acquired in the CPA®:16 Merger. The results of operations for this property have been included in Income from continuing operations before income taxes in the consolidated financial statements.

	Purchase Price Allocation

	We accounted for the CPA®:16 Merger as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. After consideration of all applicable factors pursuant to the business combination accounting rules, we were considered the “accounting acquirer” due to various factors, including the fact that our stockholders held the largest portion of the voting rights in us upon completion of the CPA®:16 Merger. Costs of $30.5 million related to the CPA®:16 Merger were incurred in 2014, of which $29.5 million were incurred and expensed during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and classified within Merger and property acquisition expenses in the consolidated financial statements. In addition, CPA®:16 – Global incurred a total of $10.6 million of merger expenses prior to January 31, 2014.

	Equity Investments and Noncontrolling Interests

	During the first quarter of 2014, we recognized a gain on change in control of interests of approximately $73.1 million, which was the difference between the carrying value of approximately $274.1 million and the preliminary estimated fair value of approximately $347.2 million of our previously-held equity interest in 38,229,294 shares of CPA®:16 – Global’s common stock. During 2014, we identified certain measurement period adjustments that impacted the provisional accounting, which increased the estimated fair value of our previously-held equity interest in shares of CPA®:16 – Global’s common stock by $2.6 million, resulting in an increase of $2.6 million in Gain on change in control of interests. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification, or ASC, 805-10-25, we did not record the measurement period adjustments during the periods they occurred. Rather, such amounts are reflected in the financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

	The CPA®:16 Merger also resulted in our acquisition of the remaining interests in nine investments in which we already had a joint interest and accounted for under the equity method. Upon acquiring the remaining interests in these investments, we owned 100% of these investments and thus accounted for the acquisitions of these interests utilizing the purchase method of accounting. Due to the change in control of the nine jointly-owned investments that occurred, we recorded a gain on change in control of interests of approximately $30.2 million during the first quarter of 2014, which was the difference between our carrying values and the estimated fair values of our previously-held equity interests on the acquisition date of approximately $142.5 million and approximately $172.7 million, respectively. Subsequent to the CPA®:16 Merger, we consolidate these wholly-owned investments.

	In connection with the CPA®:16 Merger, we also acquired the remaining interests in 12 less-than-wholly-owned investments that we already consolidate and recorded an adjustment to additional paid-in-capital of approximately $42.0 million during the first quarter of 2014 related to the difference between our carrying values and the preliminary estimated fair values of our previously-held noncontrolling interests on the acquisition date of approximately $236.8 million and approximately $278.2 million, respectively. During 2014, we identified certain measurement period adjustments that impacted the provisional accounting, which increased the fair value of our previously-held noncontrolling interests on the acquisition date by $0.6 million, resulting in a reduction of $0.6 million to additional paid-in-capital.

	Pro Forma Financial Information (Unaudited)

	The following unaudited consolidated pro forma financial information has been presented as if the CPA®:16 Merger had occurred on January 1, 2013 for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The pro forma financial information is not necessarily indicative of what the actual results would have been had the CPA®:16 Merger occurred on that date, nor does it purport to represent the results of operations for future periods.

	(in thousands, except share and per share amounts):


			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Pro forma total revenues		$	234,125


	Pro forma net income from continuing operations, net of tax		$	37,940

	Pro forma net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(572		)
	Pro forma net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(262		)
	Pro forma net income from continuing operations, net of tax attributable to W. P. Carey (a)		$	37,106


	Pro forma earnings per share: (a)
	Basic		$	0.37

	Diluted		$	0.37


	Pro forma weighted-average shares: (b)
	Basic		99,724,441

	Diluted		100,615,300

	___________

	(a)	The pro forma income attributable to W. P. Carey for the three months ended March 31, 2014 reflects the following income and expenses recognized related to the CPA®:16 Merger as if the CPA®:16 Merger had taken place on January 1, 2013: (i) combined merger expenses through December 31, 2014; (ii) an aggregate gain on change in control of interests; and (iii) an income tax expense from a permanent difference upon recognition of deferred revenue associated with accelerated vesting of shares previously issued by CPA®:16 – Global for asset management and performance fees in connection with the CPA®:16 Merger.

	(b)	The pro forma weighted-average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2014 were determined as if the 30,729,878 shares of our common stock issued to CPA®:16 – Global stockholders in the CPA®:16 Merger were issued on January 1, 2013.

Agreements_and_Transactions_wi

Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties	Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties

	Advisory Agreements with the Managed REITs

	We have advisory agreements with each of the Managed REITs, pursuant to which we earn fees and are entitled to receive cash distributions. The following tables present a summary of revenue earned and/or cash received from the Managed REITs for the periods indicated, included in the consolidated financial statements (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Structuring revenue	$	21,720	$	17,750

	Asset management revenue	11,112		9,754

	Reimbursable costs from affiliates	9,607		39,732

	Distributions of Available Cash	8,806		10,445

	Dealer manager fees	1,274		6,676

	Incentive, termination and subordinated disposition revenue	203		—

	Interest income on deferred acquisition fees and loans to affiliates	153		175

	Deferred revenue earned	—		786

		$	52,875	$	85,318



		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	CPA®:16 – Global (a)	$	—	7,998

	CPA®:17 – Global (b)	21,676		15,828

	CPA®:18 – Global (b)	18,940		56,176

	CWI (b)	12,259		5,316

		$	52,875	$	85,318

	___________

	(a)	The amount shown for the three months ended March 31, 2014 reflects transactions through January 31, 2014, the date of the CPA®:16 Merger.

	(b)	The advisory agreements with each of the CPA® REITs are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2015 and the advisory agreement with CWI is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2015 unless otherwise renewed.

	The following table presents a summary of amounts included in Due from affiliates (in thousands):


		31-Mar-15		31-Dec-14
	Deferred acquisition fees receivable	25,170		$	26,913

	Asset management fees receivable	5,991		—

	Current acquisition fees receivable	6,839		2,463

	Reimbursable costs	5,797		301

	Accounts receivable	4,982		2,680

	Organization and offering costs	2,421		2,120

		$	51,200	$	34,477


Asset Management Revenue

We earn asset management revenue, from each Managed REIT, based on each REITs Average Invested Assets (as defined in the respective advisory agreements). For CPA®:16 – Global, prior to the CPA®:16 Merger, we earned asset management revenue of 0.5% of average invested assets. For CPA®:17 – Global and CPA®:18 – Global, we earn asset management revenue ranging from 0.5% to 1.75% and 0.5% to 1.5%, respectively, depending on the type of investment and based on the average market value or average equity value, as applicable. For CWI, we earn asset management revenue of 0.5% of the average market value of lodging-related investments.

Through December 31, 2014, under the terms of the respective advisory agreements with the CPA® REITs, we could elect to receive cash or shares of stock for asset management revenue due from each REIT. Effective January 1, 2015, the independent directors of the CPA® REITs have the option to approve, after consultation with us, paying the annual asset management revenue due to us in cash, shares of stock, or a combination of both. In 2014, we elected to receive all asset management revenue from CPA®:17 – Global, CPA®:18 – Global, and CWI in their respective shares. For CPA®:16 – Global, we elected to receive its January 2014 asset management revenue due to us in cash. In 2015, CPA®:17 – Global elected to pay 50% of its asset management fees due to us in cash, with the remaining 50% paid in shares of its common stock, while CPA®:18 – Global elected to pay its asset management fees due to us in shares of its common stock.

Under the terms of the advisory agreement with CWI, we may elect to receive the annual asset management fee in cash or in shares of CWI. For 2015, we elected to receive asset management fees due to us in cash.

Structuring Revenue

Under the terms of the advisory agreements, we earn revenue in connection with structuring and negotiating investments and related financing for the Managed REITs, which we refer to as acquisition revenue. We may receive acquisition revenue of 4.5% of the total aggregate cost of long-term net-lease investments made by each CPA® REIT, of which 2.5% is paid when the transaction is completed, and 2.0% is paid in annual installments over three years, provided the relevant CPA® REIT meets its performance criterion. For certain types of non-long term net-lease investments acquired on behalf of CPA®:17 – Global, initial acquisition revenue may range from 0% to 1.75% of the equity invested plus the related acquisition revenue, with no deferred acquisition revenue being earned. For CWI, we earn initial acquisition revenue of 2.5% of the total investment cost of the properties acquired and loans originated by CWI with no deferred acquisition revenue being earned. Total acquisition revenue from Managed REITs cannot exceed 6.0% of the aggregate contract purchase price of all investments and loans. For CWI, we may also be entitled to fees for structuring loan refinancing transactions of up to 1.0% of the principal amount. This loan refinancing revenue, together with the acquisition revenue, is referred to as structuring revenue.

Unpaid deferred acquisition fees, including accrued interest, are included in Due from affiliates in the consolidated financial statements. Unpaid deferred acquisition fees bear interest at annual rates ranging from 2.0% to 5.0%.

Reimbursable Costs from Affiliates and Dealer Manager Fees

The Managed REITs reimburse us for certain costs we incur on their behalf, primarily broker-dealer commissions, marketing costs, an annual distribution and shareholder servicing fee, or Shareholder Servicing Fee, and certain personnel and overhead costs. Personnel and overhead costs are charged to the CPA® REITs based on the average of the trailing 12-month reported revenues of the CPA® REITs, CWI and us. Under the amended and restated advisory agreements for the CPA® REITs, in 2015 and 2016, the amount of personnel costs, excluding costs related to our legal transactions group, allocated to the CPA® REITs is capped at 2.4% and 2.2%, respectively, of pro rata lease revenues for each year. In 2017 and thereafter, the cap decreases to 2.0% of pro rata lease revenues for that year. Costs related to our legal transactions group are based on a schedule of expenses for different types of transactions, including 0.25% of the total investment cost of an acquisition. We allocate personnel and overhead costs to CWI based on the time incurred by our personnel. For 2015, we will receive personnel cost reimbursements from CWI in cash, but for 2014, we agreed to receive such reimbursements from CWI in shares of its common stock.

During CWI’s follow-on offering, which began in December 2013 and terminated in December 2014, we earned a selling commission of $0.70 per share sold and a dealer manager fee of $0.30 per share sold.

For CPA®:18 – Global’s initial public offering which commenced in May 2013 and terminated in April 2015, we received selling commissions, depending on the class of common stock sold, of $0.70 or $0.14 per share sold, and a dealer manager fee of $0.30 or $0.21 per share sold, for its class A common stock and class C common stock, respectively. CPA®:18 – Global completed sales of its class A common stock and class C common stock during June 2014 and April 2015, respectively. We also receive a Shareholder Servicing Fee paid in connection with investor purchases of shares of class C common stock. The amount of the Shareholder Servicing Fee is 1% of the purchase price per share (or, once reported, the amount of the estimated NAV per share) for the shares of class C common stock sold in the offering. The Shareholder Servicing Fee is accrued daily and is payable quarterly in arrears. CPA®:18 – Global will cease paying the Shareholder Servicing Fee on the date at which, in the aggregate, underwriting compensation from all sources, including the Shareholder Servicing Fee, any organizational and offering fee paid for underwriting, and underwriting compensation paid by us, equals 10% of the gross proceeds from the initial public offering.

We re-allowed all of the selling commissions and Shareholder Servicing Fees and re-allowed a portion of the dealer manager fees to selected dealers in the offerings for CWI and CPA®:18 – Global. Dealer manager fees that were not re-allowed and Shareholder Servicing Fees were classified as Dealer manager fees in the consolidated financial statements.

Pursuant to its advisory agreement, CWI is obligated to reimburse us for all organization costs and a portion of offering costs incurred in connection with its initial and follow-on public offerings up to a maximum amount (excluding selling commissions and the dealer manager fee) of 2% and 4%, respectively, of the gross proceeds of its offering and distribution reinvestment plan. Through March 31, 2015, we incurred organization and offering costs on behalf of CWI of approximately $13.2 million, which CWI is obligated to reimburse us, and $12.9 million had been reimbursed as of March 31, 2015.

Pursuant to its advisory agreement, CPA®:18 – Global is obligated to reimburse us for all organization costs and a portion of offering costs incurred in connection with its initial public offering. CPA®:18 – Global is obligated to reimburse us up to 1.5% of the gross proceeds within 60 days after the end of the quarter in which the offering terminates. Through March 31, 2015, we incurred organization and offering costs on behalf of CPA®:18 – Global of approximately $8.5 million, and based on total funds raised, the entire amount is expected to be reimbursed by CPA®:18 – Global. As of March 31, 2015, $8.3 million had been reimbursed.

Distributions of Available Cash and Deferred Revenue Earned

We are entitled to receive distributions of up to 10% of the Available Cash (as defined in the respective advisory agreements) from the operating partnerships of each of the Managed REITs, as defined in their respective operating partnership agreements. In May 2011, we acquired a special member interest, or the Special Member Interest, in CPA®:16 – Global’s operating partnership. We initially recorded this Special Member Interest at its fair value, and amortized it into earnings through the date of the CPA®:16 Merger. Cash distributions of our proportionate share of earnings from the Managed REITs’ operating partnerships as well as deferred revenue earned from our Special Member Interest in CPA®:16 – Global’s operating partnership are recorded as Equity in earnings of equity method investments in real estate and the Managed REITs within the Real Estate Ownership segment.

CWI 2

On February 9, 2015, we entered into an advisory agreement with CWI 2 whereby we perform various services, including but
not limited to the day-to-day management of CWI 2 and transaction-related services. We also entered into a dealer manager
agreement with CWI 2 to manage its public offering of common stock. As of March 31, 2015, we had not earned any income from CWI 2 because CWI 2 had not acquired any properties and had not reached its minimum offering proceeds to admit stockholders.

Other Transactions with Affiliates

Loans to Managed REITs

During 2015 and 2014, our board of directors approved unsecured loans from us to CPA®:17 – Global of up to $75.0 million, CPA®:18 – Global of up to $100.0 million and to CWI and CWI 2 of up to $110.0 million in the aggregate, with each loan at a rate equal to the rate at which we are able to borrow funds under our senior credit facility (Note 11), for the purpose of facilitating acquisitions approved by their respective investment committees, that they would not otherwise have sufficient available funds to complete, with any loans to be made solely at our Management’s discretion. In April and May 2015 we made loans to CWI 2 of $37.2 million and $65.3 million, respectively, in order to facilitate two acquisitions and an anticipated acquisition by CWI 2. The loans mature in March 2016 and December 2015, respectively and each loan bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.1%. On June 25, 2014, in order to facilitate an acquisition by CWI, we made an $11.0 million loan to CWI, with an annual interest rate of London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR, plus 1.1% and a scheduled maturity date of June 30, 2015. The loan, including accrued interest, was repaid in full prior to maturity on July 22, 2014.

Treasury Stock

In February 2014, we repurchased 11,037 shares of our common stock for $0.7 million in cash from the former independent directors of CPA®:16 – Global at a price per share equal to the volume weighted-average trading price of our stock utilized in the CPA®:16 Merger. These shares were issued to them as their portion of the Merger Consideration in exchange for their shares of CPA®:16 – Global common stock (Note 3) and were repurchased by agreement in order to satisfy the independence requirements set forth in the organizational documents of the remaining CPA® REITs, for which these individuals also serve as independent directors.

Other

We own interests in entities ranging from 3% to 90%, as well as jointly-controlled tenancy-in-common interests in properties, with the remaining interests generally held by affiliates, and own common stock in each of the Managed REITs. We consolidate certain of these investments and account for the remainder under the equity method of accounting.

Net_Investments_in_Properties

Net Investments in Properties	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Real Estate [Abstract]
Net Investments in Properties	Net Investments in Properties

	Real Estate

	Real estate, which consists of land and buildings leased to others, at cost, and which are subject to operating leases, and real estate under construction, is summarized as follows (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Land	$	1,155,190		$	1,146,704

	Buildings	3,965,923			3,829,981

	Real estate under construction	38,026			29,997

	Less: Accumulated depreciation	(281,041		)	(253,627		)
		$	4,878,098		$	4,753,055


	During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro, as the end-of-period rate for the U.S. dollar in relation to the euro at March 31, 2015 decreased by 11.5% to $1.0759 from $1.2156 at December 31, 2014. The impact of this strengthening was a $190.3 million decrease in the carrying value of Real estate from December 31, 2014 to March 31, 2015.

	Acquisitions of Real Estate

	During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we entered into the following investments, which were deemed to be business combinations because we assumed the existing leases on the properties, for which the sellers were not the lessees, at a total cost of $388.3 million, including land of $66.4 million, buildings of $264.3 million, and net lease intangibles of $57.6 million (Note 8):


	•	an investment of $345.9 million for 73 auto dealership properties in various locations in the United Kingdom on January 28, 2015; and

	•	an investment of $42.4 million for a logistics facility in Rotterdam, the Netherlands on February 11, 2015.

	In connection with these transactions, we also expensed acquisition-related costs totaling $5.9 million, which are included in Merger and property acquisition expenses in the consolidated financial statements. Dollar amounts are based on the exchange rates of the foreign currencies on the dates of acquisitions.

	Operating Real Estate

	Operating real estate, which consists of our investments in two hotels and two self-storage properties, at cost, is summarized as follows (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Land	$	7,074		$	7,074

	Buildings	77,841			77,811

	Less: Accumulated depreciation	(5,912		)	(4,866		)
		$	79,003		$	80,019


	Assets Held for Sale

	Below is a summary of our properties held for sale (in thousands):


		31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Real estate, net	$	—		$	5,969

	Above-market rent intangible assets, net	—			838

	In-place lease intangible assets, net	—			448

	Assets held for sale	$	—		$	7,255


	At December 31, 2014, we had four properties classified as Assets held for sale, all of which were sold during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Finance_Receivables

Finance Receivables	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Receivables [Abstract]
Finance Receivables	Finance Receivables

	Assets representing rights to receive money on demand or at fixed or determinable dates are referred to as finance receivables. Our finance receivables portfolio consists of our Net investments in direct financing leases, notes receivable, and deferred acquisition fees. Operating leases are not included in finance receivables as such amounts are not recognized as an asset in the consolidated financial statements.

	Net Investments in Direct Financing Leases

	Net investments in direct financing leases is summarized as follows (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Minimum lease payments receivable	$	847,087			$	904,788

	Unguaranteed residual value	769,425				818,334

		1,616,512				1,723,122

	Less: unearned income	(849,592		)		(906,896		)
		$	766,920			$	816,226


	Interest income from direct financing leases, which was included in Lease revenues in the consolidated financial statements, was $18.8 million and $17.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro, as the end-of-period rate for the U.S. dollar in relation to the euro at March 31, 2015 decreased by 11.5% to $1.0759 from $1.2156 at December 31, 2014. The impact of this strengthening was a $47.4 million decrease in the carrying value of Net investments in direct financing leases from December 31, 2014 to March 31, 2015. During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we reclassified a property with a carrying value of $6.2 million from Net investments in direct financing leases to Real estate (Note 5), in connection with the restructuring of the underlying lease.

	At both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, Other assets, net included $1.4 million of accounts receivable related to amounts billed under these direct financing leases.

	Notes Receivable

	At March 31, 2015, our note receivable, which was included in Other assets, net in the consolidated financial statements, consisted of a note with an outstanding balance of $10.8 million, representing the expected future payments under a sales type lease.

	In February 2015, our B-note, which we acquired in the CPA®:16 Merger and which had an outstanding balance of $10.0 million, was repaid in full.

	Deferred Acquisition Fees Receivable

	As described in Note 4, we earn revenue in connection with structuring and negotiating investments and related mortgage financing for the CPA® REITs. A portion of this revenue is due in equal annual installments over three years, provided the CPA® REITs meet their respective performance criteria. Unpaid deferred installments, including accrued interest, from the CPA® REITs were included in Due from affiliates in the consolidated financial statements.

	Credit Quality of Finance Receivables

	We generally seek investments in facilities that we believe are critical to a tenant’s business and that we believe have a low risk of tenant default. At both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, none of the balances of our finance receivables were past due and we had not established any allowances for credit losses. Other than the lease restructurings noted under “Net Investment in Direct Financing Leases” above, there were no modifications of finance receivables during the three months ended March 31, 2015 or the year ended December 31, 2014. We evaluate the credit quality of our finance receivables utilizing an internal five-point credit rating scale, with one representing the highest credit quality and five representing the lowest. The credit quality evaluation of our finance receivables was last updated in the first quarter of 2015. We believe the credit quality of our deferred acquisition fees receivable falls under category one, as the CPA® REITs are expected to have the available cash to make such payments.

	A summary of our finance receivables by internal credit quality rating is as follows (dollars in thousands):


			Number of Tenants / Obligors at				Carrying Value at
	Internal Credit Quality Indicator		March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014		March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	1		3		3		$	134,071	$	79,343

	2		3		4		27,217		37,318

	3		22		22		497,960		592,631

	4		7		7		118,490		127,782

	5		—		—		—		—

							$	777,738	$	837,074

Equity_Investment_in_Real_Esta

Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs	3 Months Ended
Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Equity Investments in Real Estate and the Managed REITs	Equity Investments in Real Estate and the Managed Programs

	We own interests in certain unconsolidated real estate investments with the Managed Programs and also own interests in the Managed Programs. We account for our interests in these investments under the equity method of accounting (i.e., at cost, increased or decreased by our share of earnings or losses, less distributions, plus contributions and other adjustments required by equity method accounting, such as basis differences).

	The following table presents Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate, which represents our proportionate share of the income or losses of these investments as well as certain adjustments related to other-than-temporary impairment charges and amortization of basis differences related to purchase accounting adjustments (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2014
	Proportionate share of earnings from equity investments in the Managed Programs	$	307			$	782
		$	307			$	782
	Amortization of basis differences on equity investments in the Managed Programs	(295		)		(390		)
	Other-than-temporary impairment charges on the Special Member Interest in CPA®:16 – Global’s operating partnership	—				(735		)
		—				(735		)
	Distributions of Available Cash (Note 4)	8,806				10,445
	Distributions of Available Cash (Note 4)	8,806				10,445
	Deferred revenue earned (Note 4)	—				786
	Deferred revenue earned (Note 4)	—				786
	Total equity earnings from the Managed Programs	8,818				10,888
	Total equity earnings from the Managed Programs	8,818				10,888
	Equity earnings from other equity investments	3,816				3,956
	Equity earnings from other equity investments	3,816				3,956
	Amortization of basis differences on other equity investments	(911		)		(582		)
	Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	$	11,723			$	14,262
		$	11,723			$	14,262

	Managed Programs

	We own interests in the Managed Programs and account for these interests under the equity method, because, as their advisor and through our ownership of their common stock, we do not exert control over, but we do have the ability to exercise significant influence on, the Managed Programs.

	The following table sets forth certain information about our investments in the Managed Programs (dollars in thousands):


			% of Outstanding Shares Owned at						Carrying Amount of Investment at
	Fund		31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14			March 31, 2015 (a) (b)			December 31, 2014 (a) (b)
	CPA®:17 – Global (c)		2.795	%		2.676	%		$	81,589		$	79,429
	CPA®:17 – Global (c)		2.795	%		2.676	%		$	81,589		$	79,429
	CPA®:17 – Global operating partnership (d)		0.009	%		0.009	%		—			—
	CPA®:17 – Global operating partnership (d)		0.009	%		0.009	%		—			—
	CPA®:18 – Global		0.302	%		0.221	%		4,061			2,784
	CPA®:18 – Global		0.302	%		0.221	%		4,061			2,784
	CPA®:18 – Global operating partnership (e)		0.034	%		0.034	%		223			209
	CPA®:18 – Global operating partnership (e)		0.034	%		0.034	%		223			209
	CWI		1.155	%		1.088	%		13,326			13,940
	CWI		1.155	%		1.088	%		13,326			13,940
	CWI operating partnership (f)		0.015	%		0.015	%		—			—
	CWI operating partnership (f)		0.015	%		0.015	%		—			—
	Carey Credit Income Fund (g)		50	%		50	%		24,993			25,000
	Carey Credit Income Fund (g)		50	%		50	%		24,993			25,000
									$	124,192		$	121,362
									$	124,192		$	121,362
	___________

	(a)	Includes asset management fees receivable, for which 125,774 shares and 48,799 class A shares of common stock of CPA®:17 – Global and CPA®:18 – Global, respectively, were issued during the second quarter of 2015.

	(b)	At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate unamortized basis differences on our equity investments in the Managed Programs were $21.4 million and $20.2 million, respectively.

	(c)	We received distributions of $1.4 million and $1.0 million from this affiliate during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(d)	We received distributions of $6.1 million and $4.7 million from this affiliate during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(e)	We received distributions of $0.9 million and $0.1 million from this affiliate during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(f)	We received distributions of $1.8 million and $0.9 million from this affiliate during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(g)	As of March 31, 2015, CCIF has not yet admitted any additional shareholders other than our joint venture partner.

The following tables present estimated combined summarized financial information for the Managed Programs. Amounts provided are expected total amounts attributable to the Managed Programs and do not represent our proportionate share (in thousands):


	March 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
Real estate, net	$	5,739,527			$	5,969,011
Real estate, net	$	5,739,527			$	5,969,011
Other assets	2,644,280				2,293,065
Other assets	2,644,280				2,293,065
Total assets	8,383,807				8,262,076
Total assets	8,383,807				8,262,076
Debt	(3,527,119		)		(3,387,795		)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(532,209		)		(496,857		)
Total liabilities	(4,059,328		)		(3,884,652		)
Noncontrolling interests	(160,586		)		(170,249		)
Stockholders’ equity	$	4,163,893			$	4,207,175
Stockholders’ equity	$	4,163,893			$	4,207,175



	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015				2014
Revenues	235,710				$	193,830
Revenues	235,710				$	193,830
Expenses	(233,363		)		(189,055		)
Income from continuing operations	$	2,347			$	4,775
Income from continuing operations	$	2,347			$	4,775
Net loss attributable to the Managed Programs (a) (b)	$	(9,082	)		$	(3,015	)
___________

(a)	Inclusive of impairment charges recognized by the Managed Programs totaling $0.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. These impairment charges reduced our income earned from these investments by less than $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. There were no such impairment charges recognized by the Managed Programs during the three months ended March 31, 2014.

(b)	Amounts included net gains on sale of real estate recorded by the Managed Programs totaling $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015. There were no such gains recognized by the Managed Programs during the three months ended March 31, 2014.

Interests in Other Unconsolidated Real Estate Investments

We own equity interests in single-tenant net-leased properties that are generally leased to companies through noncontrolling interests (i) in partnerships and limited liability companies that we do not control but over which we exercise significant influence or (ii) as tenants-in-common subject to common control. Generally, the underlying investments are jointly-owned with affiliates. We account for these investments under the equity method of accounting. Earnings for each investment are recognized in accordance with each respective investment agreement. Investments in unconsolidated investments are required to be evaluated periodically. We periodically compare an investment’s carrying value to its estimated fair value and recognize an impairment charge to the extent that the carrying value exceeds fair value and such decline is determined to be other than temporary.

The following table sets forth our ownership interests in our equity investments in real estate, excluding the Managed Programs, and their respective carrying values (dollars in thousands):


				Ownership Interest at		Carrying Value at
Lessee		Co-owner(s)		March 31, 2015		March 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
Existing Equity Investments (a) (b)
C1000 Logistiek Vastgoed B.V. (c)		CPA®:17 – Global		15%		$	9,429			$	11,192
C1000 Logistiek Vastgoed B.V. (c)		CPA®:17 – Global		15%		$	9,429			$	11,192
Waldaschaff Automotive GmbH and Wagon Automotive Nagold GmbH		CPA®:17 – Global		33%		6,192				6,949
		CPA®:17 – Global		33%		6,192				6,949
Wanbishi Archives Co. Ltd.		CPA®:17 – Global		3%		344				341
Wanbishi Archives Co. Ltd.		CPA®:17 – Global		3%		344				341
						15,965				18,482
						15,965				18,482
Equity Investments Acquired in the CPA®:16 Merger
The New York Times Company		CPA®:17 – Global		45%		72,208				72,476
The New York Times Company		CPA®:17 – Global		45%		72,208				72,476
Frontier Spinning Mills, Inc.		CPA®:17 – Global		40%		15,639				15,609
Frontier Spinning Mills, Inc.		CPA®:17 – Global		40%		15,639				15,609
Actebis Peacock GmbH (a)		CPA®:17 – Global		30%		5,979				6,369
Actebis Peacock GmbH (a)		CPA®:17 – Global		30%		5,979				6,369
						93,826				94,454
						93,826				94,454
Recently Acquired Equity Investment
Beach House JV, LLC (d)		Third Party		N/A(d)		15,105				15,105
Beach House JV, LLC (d)		Third Party		N/A(d)		15,105				15,105
						$	124,896			$	128,041
						$	124,896			$	128,041
___________

(a)	The carrying value of this investment is affected by the impact of fluctuations in the exchange rate of the foreign currency.

(b)	Represents equity investments we acquired prior to January 1, 2014.

(c)	This investment represents a tenancy-in-common interest, whereby the property is encumbered by the debt for which we are jointly and severally liable. For this investment, the co-obligor is CPA®:17 – Global and the amount due under the arrangement was approximately $72.8 million at March 31, 2015. Of this amount, $10.9 million represents the amount we agreed to pay and is included within the carrying value of the investment at March 31, 2015.

(d)	In March 2014, we received a preferred equity position in Beach House JV, LLC, as part of the sale of the Soho House investment. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recognized $0.3 million of income and distribution related to this investment, which is included in Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate in the consolidated financial statements.

We received aggregate distributions of $3.1 million and $2.3 million from our other unconsolidated real estate investments for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. At both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate unamortized basis differences on our unconsolidated real estate investments were $5.8 million.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangibles

Goodwill and Other Intangibles	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Goodwill and Other Intangibles	Goodwill and Other Intangibles

	In connection with our acquisitions of properties, we have recorded net lease intangibles that are being amortized over periods ranging from one year to 40 years. In addition, we have several ground lease intangibles that are being amortized over periods of up to 250 years. Intangibles relating to in-place lease and tenant relationship, and above-market rent are included in In-place lease and tenant relationship intangible assets, net and Above-market rent intangible assets, net, respectively, in the consolidated financial statements. Below-market ground lease (as lessee), trade name, management contracts, and software license intangibles are included in Other assets, net in the consolidated financial statements. Below-market rent, above-market ground lease (as lessee), and below-market purchase option intangibles are included in Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, net in the consolidated financial statements.

	In connection with our investment activity during the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recorded net lease intangibles comprised as follows (life in years, dollars in thousands):


		Weighted-Average Life		Amount
	Amortizable Intangible Assets
	In-place lease	13.9		$	39,855

	Above-market rent	15.3		17,318

	Below-market ground lease	223.4		6,963

				$	64,136


	Amortizable Intangible Liabilities
	Below-market rent	14.6		(6,492		)
				$	(6,492	)

	The following table presents a reconciliation of our goodwill (in thousands):


		Real Estate Ownership				Investment Management				Total
	Balance at January 1, 2015	$	628,808			$	63,607			$	692,415

	Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held-for-sale	(303		)		—				(303		)

	Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(9,489		)		—				(9,489		)

	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	619,016			$	63,607			$	682,623


	Intangible assets, intangible liabilities, and goodwill are summarized as follows (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015												December 31, 2014
		Gross Carrying Amount				Accumulated Amortization				Net Carrying Amount				Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization				Net Carrying Amount
	Amortizable Intangible Assets
	Management contracts	$	32,765			$	(32,765	)		$	—			$	32,765		$	(32,765	)		$	—

	Internal-use software development costs	18,044				(617		)		17,427				17,584			(26		)		17,558

		50,809				(33,382		)		17,427				50,349			(32,791		)		17,558

	Lease Intangibles:
	In-place lease and tenant relationship	1,166,486				(213,028		)		953,458				1,185,692			(191,873		)		993,819

	Above-market rent	641,401				(130,715		)		510,686				639,370			(116,573		)		522,797

	Below-market ground lease	22,825				(512		)		22,313				17,771			(435		)		17,336

		1,830,712				(344,255		)		1,486,457				1,842,833			(308,881		)		1,533,952

	Unamortizable Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
	Goodwill	682,623				—				682,623				692,415			—				692,415

	Trade name	3,975				—				3,975				3,975			—				3,975

		686,598				—				686,598				696,390			—				696,390

	Total intangible assets	$	2,568,119			$	(377,637	)		$	2,190,482			$	2,589,572		$	(341,672	)		$	2,247,900


Amortizable Intangible Liabilities
Below-market rent	$	(171,535	)		$	25,855			$	(145,680	)		$	(169,231	)	$	23,039			$	(146,192	)

Above-market ground lease	(13,026		)		1,291				(11,735		)		(13,311		)	1,144				(12,167		)

	(184,561		)		27,146				(157,415		)		(182,542		)	24,183				(158,359		)

Unamortizable Intangible Liabilities
Below-market purchase option	(16,711		)		—				(16,711		)		(16,711		)	—				(16,711		)

Total intangible liabilities	$	(201,272	)		$	27,146			$	(174,126	)		$	(199,253	)	$	24,183			$	(175,070	)


Net amortization of intangibles, including the effect of foreign currency translation, was $44.0 million and $39.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Amortization of below-market rent and above-market rent intangibles is recorded as an adjustment to Lease revenues; amortization of management contracts, in-place lease and tenant relationship intangibles is included in Depreciation and amortization; and amortization of above-market ground lease and below-market ground lease intangibles is included in Property expenses.

Based on the intangible assets and liabilities recorded at March 31, 2015, scheduled annual net amortization of intangibles for the remainder of 2015, each of the next four calendar years following December 31, 2015, and thereafter is as follows (in thousands):


Years Ending December 31,		Net Decrease in				Increase to Amortization/				Net
		Lease Revenues				Property Expenses
2015 (remainder)		$	39,969			$	84,187			$	124,156

2016		51,797				110,196				161,993

2017		49,014				106,368				155,382

2018		45,788				96,801				142,589

2019		41,985				91,783				133,768

Thereafter		136,453				492,128				628,581

Total		$	365,006			$	981,463			$	1,346,469

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Fair Value Measurements	Fair Value Measurements

	The fair value of an asset is defined as the exit price, which is the amount that would either be received when an asset is sold or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers are: Level 1, for which quoted market prices for identical instruments are available in active markets, such as money market funds, equity securities, and U.S. Treasury securities; Level 2, for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the instrument, such as certain derivative instruments including interest rate caps, interest rate swaps, and foreign currency forward contracts; and Level 3, for securities that do not fall into Level 1 or Level 2 and for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring us to develop our own assumptions.

	Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

	The methods and assumptions described below were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instrument. For significant Level 3 items we have also provided the unobservable inputs along with their weighted-average ranges.

	Money Market Funds — Our money market funds, which are included in Cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated financial statements, are comprised of government securities and U.S. Treasury bills. These funds were classified as Level 1 as we used quoted prices from active markets to determine their fair values.

	Derivative Assets — Our derivative assets, which are included in Other assets, net in the consolidated financial statements, are comprised of interest rate caps, interest rate swaps, stock warrants, foreign currency forward contracts and foreign currency collars (Note 10). The interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts were measured at fair value using readily observable market inputs, such as quotations on interest rates, and were classified as Level 2 as these instruments are custom, over-the-counter contracts with various bank counterparties that are not traded in an active market. The stock warrants were measured at fair value using internal valuation models that incorporate market inputs and our own assumptions about future cash flows. We classified these assets as Level 3 because these assets are not traded in an active market.

	Derivative Liabilities — Our derivative liabilities, which are included in Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities in the consolidated financial statements, are comprised of interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts (Note 10). These derivative instruments were measured at fair value using readily observable market inputs, such as quotations on interest rates. These derivative instruments were classified as Level 2 because they are custom, over-the-counter contracts with various bank counterparties that are not traded in an active market.

	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest — We account for the noncontrolling interest in W. P. Carey International, LLC, or WPCI, held by a third party as a redeemable noncontrolling interest (Note 13). We determined the valuation of redeemable noncontrolling interest using widely accepted valuation techniques, including comparable transaction analysis, comparable public company analysis and discounted cash flow analysis. We classified this liability as Level 3. At March 31, 2015, unobservable inputs for determining the estimated fair value of WPCI included, but were not limited to, a discount for lack of marketability, a discount rate, revenue, EBITDA (including normalized and run-rate EBITDA), and termination multiples with weighted-average ranges, across all valuation techniques utilized, as applicable, of 10% - 20%, 14% - 16%, 1.1x - 8.8, 3.2x - 18.8x and 5.5x - 7.5x, respectively. Significant increases or decreases in any one of these inputs in isolation would result in significant changes in the fair value measurement.

	We did not have any transfers into or out of Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 measurements during either the three months ended March 31, 2015 or 2014.

	Our other financial instruments had the following carrying values and fair values as of the dates shown (dollars in thousands):


				31-Mar-15						31-Dec-14
			Level	Carrying Value			Fair Value			Carrying Value			Fair Value
	Non-recourse debt (a)		3	$	2,420,620		$	2,469,545		$	2,532,683		$	2,574,437

	Senior Unsecured Notes (b)		2	1,479,473			1,506,779			498,345			527,029

	Senior Unsecured Credit Facility (c) (d)		2	436,131			436,132			1,057,518			1,057,519

	Deferred acquisition fees receivable (f)		3	25,170			25,835			26,913			28,027

	Notes receivable (a) (e)		3	10,816			9,764			20,848			19,604

	__________

	(a)	We determined the estimated fair value of these financial instruments using a discounted cash flow model with rates that take into account the credit of the tenant/obligor, where applicable, and interest rate risk. We also considered the value of the underlying collateral taking into account the quality of the collateral, the credit quality of the tenant/obligor, the time until maturity and the current market interest rate.

	(b)	We determined the estimated fair value of the Senior Unsecured Notes (Note 11) using quoted market prices in an open market with limited trading volume.

	(c)	We determined the estimated fair value of our Senior Unsecured Credit Facility (Note 11) using a discounted cash flow model with rates that take into account the market-based credit spread and our credit rating.

	(d)	In January 2015, we utilized the proceeds of our offerings of the 2.0% Senior Euro Notes and 4.0% Senior Notes to pay down a portion of the amount outstanding under the Revolver (Note 11).

	(e)	Our B-note was repaid in full in February 2015 (Note 6).

	(f)	We determined the estimated fair value of our deferred acquisition fees receivable based on an estimate of discounted cash flows using two significant unobservable inputs, which are the leverage adjusted unsecured spread and an illiquidity adjustment with a weighted-average range of 107 - 355 basis points and 50 - 100 basis points, respectively, at March 31, 2015. Significant increases or decreases to these inputs in isolation would result in a significant change in the fair value measurement.

	We estimated that our other financial assets and liabilities (excluding net investments in direct financing leases) had fair values that approximated their carrying values at both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014.

	Items Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis (Including Impairment Charges)

	For investments in real estate held for use for which an impairment indicator is identified, we follow a two-step process to determine whether the investment is impaired and to determine the amount of the charge. First, we compare the carrying value of the property’s asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows that we expect the property’s asset group will generate, including any estimated proceeds from the eventual sale of the property’s asset group. If this amount is less than the carrying value, the property’s asset group is considered to be not recoverable. We then measure the impairment charge as the excess of the carrying value of the property’s asset group over the estimated fair value of the property’s asset group, which is primarily determined using market information such as recent comparable sales, broker quotes or third-party appraisals. If relevant market information is not available or is not deemed appropriate, we perform a future net cash flow analysis, discounted for inherent risk associated with each investment. We determined that the significant inputs used to value these investments fall within Level 3 for fair value reporting. As a result of our assessments, we calculated impairment charges based on market conditions and assumptions that existed at the time. The valuation of real estate is subject to significant judgment and actual results may differ materially if market conditions or the underlying assumptions change.

	The following table presents information about our other assets that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015						Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Fair Value			Total Impairment			Fair Value			Total Impairment
		Measurements			Charges			Measurements			Charges
	Impairment Charges
	Real estate	$	5,294		$	2,683		$	—		$	—

	Equity investments in real estate	—			—			—			735

				$	2,683					$	735


Impairment charges, and their related triggering events and fair value measurements, recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

Real Estate

During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recognized impairment charges totaling $2.7 million on two properties in order to reduce the carrying values of the properties to their estimated fair values.

Equity Investments in Real Estate

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we recognized other-than-temporary impairment charges of $0.7 million on the Special Member Interest in CPA®:16 – Global’s operating partnership to reduce its carrying value to its estimated fair value, which had declined. The fair value was obtained by estimating discounted cash flows using two significant unobservable inputs, which are the discount rate and the estimated general and administrative costs as a percentage of assets under management with a weighted-average range of 12.75% - 15.75% and 35 - 45 basis points, respectively.

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments	Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments

	Risk Management

	In the normal course of our ongoing business operations, we encounter economic risk. There are four main components of economic risk that impact us: interest rate risk, credit risk, market risk, and foreign currency risk. We are primarily subject to interest rate risk on our interest-bearing liabilities, including the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility (Note 11), at March 31, 2015. Credit risk is the risk of default on our operations and our tenants’ inability or unwillingness to make contractually required payments. Market risk includes changes in the value of our properties and related loans, as well as changes in the value of our other securities and the shares we hold in the Managed REITs due to changes in interest rates or other market factors. We own investments in the European Union, Asia and Australia and are subject to the risks associated with changing foreign currency exchange rates.

	Derivative Financial Instruments

	When we use derivative instruments, it is generally to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rate movements. We have not entered, and do not plan to enter, into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The primary risks related to our use of derivative instruments include default by a counterparty to a hedging arrangement on its obligation and a downgrade in the credit quality of a counterparty to such an extent that our ability to sell or assign our side of the hedging transaction is impaired. While we seek to mitigate these risks by entering into hedging arrangements with counterparties that are large financial institutions that we deem to be creditworthy, it is possible that our hedging transactions, which are intended to limit losses, could adversely affect our earnings. Furthermore, if we terminate a hedging arrangement, we may be obligated to pay certain costs, such as transaction or breakage fees. We have established policies and procedures for risk assessment and the approval, reporting, and monitoring of derivative financial instrument activities.

	We measure derivative instruments at fair value and record them as assets or liabilities, depending on our rights or obligations under the applicable derivative contract. Derivatives that are not designated as hedges must be adjusted to fair value through earnings. For a derivative designated, and that qualified, as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative is recognized in Other comprehensive (loss) income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. For a derivative designated, and that qualified, as a net investment hedge, the effective portion of the change in the fair value and/or the net settlement of the derivative is reported in Other comprehensive (loss) income as part of the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment. Amounts are reclassified out of Other comprehensive (loss) income into earnings when the hedged investment is either sold or substantially liquidated. That portion not deemed to be effective is considered the ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value and is immediately recognized in earnings.

	The following table sets forth certain information regarding our derivative instruments (in thousands):


	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments		Balance Sheet Location		Asset Derivatives Fair Value at						Liability Derivatives Fair Value at
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments		Balance Sheet Location		31-Mar-15				31-Dec-14		31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Interest rate cap		Other assets, net		$	—			$	3	$	—		$	—
	Interest rate cap		Other assets, net		$	—			$	3	$	—		$	—
	Interest rate swaps		Other assets, net		—				285		—			—
	Interest rate swaps		Other assets, net		—				285		—			—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		Other assets, net		41,777				16,307		—			—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		Other assets, net		41,777				16,307		—			—
	Foreign currency collars		Other assets, net		6,050				—					—
	Foreign currency collars		Other assets, net		6,050				—					—
	Interest rate swaps		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		—				—		(6,214		)	(5,660		)
	Interest rate swaps		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		—				—		(6,214		)	(5,660		)
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Stock warrants		Other assets, net		3,417				3,753		—			—
	Stock warrants		Other assets, net		3,417				3,753		—			—
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Other assets, net		3				—		—			—
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Other assets, net		3				—		—			—
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		—				—		(5,679		)	(7,496		)
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		—				—		(5,679		)	(7,496		)
	Total derivatives				$	51,247			$	20,348	$	(11,893	)	$	(13,156	)
	Total derivatives				$	51,247			$	20,348	$	(11,893	)	$	(13,156	)
	__________

	(a)	These interest rate swaps do not qualify for hedge accounting; however, they do protect against fluctuations in interest rates related to the underlying variable-rate debt.

	All derivative transactions with an individual counterparty are governed by a master International Swap and Derivatives Association agreement, which can be considered as a master netting arrangement; however, we report all our derivative instruments on a gross basis on our consolidated financial statements. At both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, no cash collateral had been posted nor received for any of our derivative positions.

	The following tables present the impact of our derivative instruments in the consolidated financial statements (in thousands):


			Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion) (a)
			Three Months Ended March 31,
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		2015				2014
	Interest rate swaps		$	(1,182	)		$	(186	)
	Interest rate caps		(1		)		(17		)
	Foreign currency forward contracts		21,590				(2,664		)
	Foreign currency forward contracts		21,590				(2,664		)
	Foreign currency collars		6,110				—
	Foreign currency collars		6,110				—
	Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships (b)
	Foreign currency forward contracts		3,657				—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		3,657				—
	Total		$	30,174			$	(2,867	)
	Total		$	30,174			$	(2,867	)



					Amount of (Loss) Gain Reclassified from Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion) (c)
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income	2015				2014
Interest rate swaps and caps		Interest expense		$	(608	)		$	(701	)
Foreign currency forward contracts		Other income and (expenses)		1,853				(384		)
Foreign currency forward contracts		Other income and (expenses)		1,853				(384		)
Total				$	1,245			$	(1,085	)
Total				$	1,245			$	(1,085	)
__________

(a)	Excludes net gains recognized on unconsolidated jointly-owned investments of $0.4 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(b)	The effective portion of the change in fair value and the settlement of these contracts are reported in the foreign currency translation adjustment section of Other comprehensive (loss) income until the underlying investment is sold, at which time we reclassify the gain or loss to earnings.

(c)	Excludes net gains recognized on unconsolidated jointly-owned investments of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. There were no such gains or losses recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2015.

Amounts reported in Other comprehensive (loss) income related to interest rate swaps will be reclassified to Interest expense as interest payments are made on our variable-rate debt. Amounts reported in Other comprehensive (loss) income related to foreign currency derivative contracts will be reclassified to Other income and (expenses) when the hedged foreign currency contracts are settled. At March 31, 2015, we estimate that an additional $2.2 million and $9.1 million will be reclassified as interest expense and other income, respectively, during the next 12 months.


				Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Derivatives Not in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income		Three Months Ended March 31,
Derivatives Not in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income		2015				2014
Interest rate swaps		Other income and (expenses)		$	973			$	478
Interest rate swaps		Other income and (expenses)		$	973			$	478
Foreign currency collars		Other income and (expenses)		362				—
Foreign currency collars		Other income and (expenses)		362				—
Stock warrants		Other income and (expenses)		(335		)		—
Stock warrants		Other income and (expenses)		(335		)		—
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
Interest rate swaps (a)		Interest expense		148				—
Interest rate swaps (a)		Interest expense		148				—
Foreign currency collars		Other income and (expenses)		12				—
Foreign currency collars		Other income and (expenses)		12				—
Foreign currency forward contracts		Other income and (expenses)		5				—
Foreign currency forward contracts		Other income and (expenses)		5				—
Total				$	1,165			$	478
Total				$	1,165			$	478
__________

(a)	Relates to the ineffective portion of the hedging relationship.

See below for information on our purposes for entering into derivative instruments and for information on derivative instruments owned by unconsolidated investments, which are excluded from the tables above.

Interest Rate Swaps and Cap

We are exposed to the impact of interest rate changes primarily through our borrowing activities. To limit this exposure, we attempt to obtain mortgage financing on a long-term, fixed-rate basis. However, from time to time, we or our investment partners may obtain variable-rate, non-recourse mortgage loans and, as a result, we have entered into, and may continue to enter into, interest rate swap agreements or interest rate cap agreements with counterparties. Interest rate swaps, which effectively convert the variable-rate debt service obligations of the loan to a fixed rate, are agreements in which one party exchanges a stream of interest payments for a counterparty’s stream of cash flow over a specific period. The face amount on which the swaps are based is not exchanged. Interest rate caps limit the effective borrowing rate of variable-rate debt obligations while allowing participants to share in downward shifts in interest rates. Our objective in using these derivatives is to limit our exposure to interest rate movements.

The interest rate swaps and cap that we had outstanding on our consolidated subsidiaries at March 31, 2015 are summarized as follows (currency in thousands):


		Number of Instruments		Notional				Fair Value at
				Amount				March 31, 2015 (a)
Interest Rate Derivatives
Interest Rate Derivatives
Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
Interest rate swaps		13		125,090		USD		$	(5,439	)
Interest rate swaps		13		125,090		USD		$	(5,439	)
Interest rate swaps		1		6,085		EUR		(775		)
Interest rate swaps		1		6,085		EUR		(775		)
Interest rate cap (b)		1		44,792		EUR		—
Interest rate cap (b)		1		44,792		EUR		—
Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
Interest rate swaps (c)		3		106,753		EUR		(5,679		)
Interest rate swaps (c)		3		106,753		EUR		(5,679		)
Interest rate swaps (c)		1		3,224		USD		3
Interest rate swaps (c)		1		3,224		USD		3
								$	(11,890	)
__________

(a)	Fair value amounts are based on the exchange rate of the euro at March 31, 2015, as applicable.

(b)	The applicable interest rate of the related debt was 1.0%, which were below the strike prices of the caps of 3.0% at March 31, 2015.

(c)	These interest rate swaps do not qualify for hedge accounting; however, they do protect against fluctuations in interest rates related to the underlying variable-rate debt.

Foreign Currency Contracts

We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate movements, primarily in the euro and, to a lesser extent, the British pound sterling and certain other currencies. We manage foreign currency exchange rate movements by generally placing our debt service obligation on an investment in the same currency as the tenant’s rental obligation to us. This reduces our overall exposure to the net cash flow from that investment. However, we are subject to foreign currency exchange rate movements to the extent of the difference in the timing and amount of the rental obligation and the debt service. Realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized in earnings related to foreign currency transactions are included in Other income and (expenses) in the consolidated financial statements.

In order to hedge certain of our foreign currency cash flow exposures, we enter into foreign currency forward contracts and collars. A foreign currency forward contract is a commitment to deliver a certain amount of currency at a certain price on a specific date in the future. A foreign currency collar consists of a written call option and a purchased put option to sell the foreign currency at a range of predetermined exchange rates. By entering into forward contracts and holding them to maturity, we are locked into a future currency exchange rate for the term of the contract. A foreign currency collar guarantees that the exchange rate of the currency will not fluctuate beyond the range of the options’ strike prices.

The following table presents the foreign currency derivative contracts we had outstanding at March 31, 2015, which were designated as cash flow hedges (currency in thousands):


		Number of Instruments		Notional				Fair Value at
Foreign Currency Derivatives		Number of Instruments		Amount				March 31, 2015 (a)
Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
Foreign currency forward contracts		64		149,058		EUR		$	32,771
Foreign currency forward contracts		64		149,058		EUR		$	32,771
Foreign currency forward contracts		15		8,020		GBP		646
Foreign currency forward contracts		15		8,020		GBP		646
Foreign currency forward contracts		19		23,902		AUD		2,138
Foreign currency forward contracts		19		23,902		AUD		2,138
Foreign currency collars		19		83,125		EUR		5,416
Foreign currency collars		19		83,125		EUR		5,416
Foreign currency collars		7		12,250		GBP		634
Foreign currency collars		7		12,250		GBP		634
Designated as Net Investment Hedging Instruments
Foreign currency forward contracts		5		84,522		AUD		6,222
Foreign currency forward contracts		5		84,522		AUD		6,222
								$	47,827
								$	47,827
__________

(a)	Fair value amounts are based on the applicable exchange rate of the foreign currency at March 31, 2015.

Credit Risk-Related Contingent Features

We measure our credit exposure on a counterparty basis as the net positive aggregate estimated fair value of our derivatives, net of collateral received, if any. No collateral was received as of March 31, 2015. At March 31, 2015, our total credit exposure and the maximum exposure to any single counterparty was $42.7 million and $24.9 million, respectively.

Some of the agreements we have with our derivative counterparties contain certain credit contingent provisions that could result in a declaration of default against us regarding our derivative obligations if we either default or are capable of being declared in default on certain of our indebtedness. At March 31, 2015, we had not been declared in default on any of our derivative obligations. The estimated fair value of our derivatives that were in a net liability position was $13.0 million and $14.2 million at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, which included accrued interest and any adjustment for nonperformance risk. If we had breached any of these provisions at March 31, 2015 or December 31, 2014, we could have been required to settle our obligations under these agreements at their aggregate termination value of $13.3 million and $14.5 million, respectively.

Net Investment Hedges

At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the amounts borrowed in euro outstanding under the Revolver were €173.0 million and €450.0 million, respectively, and the amounts borrowed in British pounds were none and £40.0 million, respectively (Note 11). Additionally, we have issued senior notes denominated in euro with a principal amount of €500.0 million (Note 11). These borrowings are designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of our net investments in foreign entities. Variability in the exchange rates of the foreign currencies with respect to the U.S. dollar impacts our financial results as the financial results of our foreign subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars each period, with the effect of changes in the foreign currencies to U.S. dollar exchange rates being recorded in Other comprehensive (loss) income as part of the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment. As a result, the borrowings in euro and British pounds sterling under the Revolver are recorded at cost in the consolidated financial statements and all changes in the value related to changes in the spot rates will be reported in the same manner as a translation adjustment, which is recorded in Other comprehensive (loss) income as part of the cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment.

At March 31, 2015, we had foreign currency forward contracts that were designated as net investment hedges, as discussed in “Derivative Financial Instruments” above.

Debt

Debt	3 Months Ended
Debt	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt	Debt

	Senior Unsecured Credit Facility

	At December 31, 2014, we had a senior credit facility that provided for a $1.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility, or the Revolver, and a $250.0 million term loan facility, or the Term Loan Facility, which we refer to collectively as the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility. The Revolver matures in 2018 but may be extended by one year at our option, subject to the conditions provided in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. The Term Loan Facility matures in 2016, but we have two options to extend the maturity by another year. At our election, the principal amount available under the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility may be increased by up to an additional $500.0 million and allocated as an increase to the Revolver and/or the Term Loan Facility, in each case subject to the conditions to increase provided in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which we refer to as the Accordion Feature. At December 31 2014, the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility also permitted (i) up to $500.0 million under the Revolver to be borrowed in certain currencies other than the U.S. dollar, (ii) swing line loans of up to $50.0 million under the Revolver, and (iii) the issuance of letters of credit under the Revolver in an aggregate amount not to exceed $50.0 million. The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility is being used for working capital needs, to refinance our existing indebtedness, for new investments and for other general corporate purposes.

	On January 15, 2015, we exercised the Accordion Feature, increasing the maximum borrowing capacity of the Revolver from $1.0 billion to $1.5 billion. We also amended the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility as follows: (i) established a new $500.0 million accordion feature that, if exercised, would increase our maximum borrowing capacity under the Revolver to $2.0 billion and under the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility in the aggregate to $2.25 billion, and (ii) increased the amount under the Revolver that may be borrowed in certain currencies other than the U.S. dollar to the equivalent of $750.0 million from $500.0 million. All other existing terms of the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility remain unchanged. In connection with the exercise of the Accordion Feature and the amendment of the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility in 2015, we incurred financing costs totaling $3.1 million, which are included in Other assets, net in the consolidated financial statements, and are being amortized to Interest expense over the remaining terms of the facilities.

	At March 31, 2015, the outstanding balance under the Senior Unsecured Credit Facility was $436.1 million, including the $250.0 million drawn under the Term Loan Facility and the equivalent of $186.1 million borrowed under the Revolver in euro. In addition, as of March 31, 2015, our lenders had issued letters of credit totaling $1.1 million on our behalf in connection with certain contractual obligations, which reduce amounts that may be drawn under the Revolver by the same amount. At March 31, 2015, our Revolver had unused capacity of $1.3 billion, excluding amounts reserved for outstanding letters of credit. Based on our credit rating of BBB/Baa2 during the three months ended March 31, 2015, we incurred interest at LIBOR plus 1.10% on the Revolver and at LIBOR plus 1.25% on the Term Loan Facility. We also incurred a facility fee of 0.20% of the total commitment on the Revolver during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

	Senior Unsecured Notes

	Since January1, 2014, we have issued senior unsecured notes in three separate registered public offerings for an aggregate carrying amount of $1.5 billion, collectively the Senior Unsecured Notes. Interest on the Senior Unsecured Notes is payable in arrears, annually for foreign notes and semi-annually for domestic notes. The Senior Unsecured Notes can be redeemed at par within three months of maturity, or we can call the notes at any time for the principal, accrued interest and a make-whole amount based upon a rate of the applicable government bond yield plus 30 basis points for the 2.0% Senior Euro Notes and the 4.6% Senior Notes, and 35 basis points for the 4.0% Senior Notes. The following table presents a summary of our Senior Unsecured Notes (dollars in millions):


	Notes		Issue Date		Principal Amount		Price of Par Value		Discount		Effective Interest Rate		Coupon Rate		Maturity Date
	4.6% Senior Notes		3/14/14		$	500	99.639	%	$	1.8	4.645	%	4.6	%	4/1/24
	4.6% Senior Notes		3/14/14		$	500	99.639	%	$	1.8	4.645	%	4.6	%	4/1/24
	2.0% Senior Euro Notes (a)		1/21/15		€	500	99.22	%	$	4.6	2.107	%	2	%	1/20/23
	2.0% Senior Euro Notes (a)		1/21/15		€	500	99.22	%	$	4.6	2.107	%	2	%	1/20/23
	4.0% Senior Notes (a)		1/26/15		$	450	99.372	%	$	2.8	4.077	%	4	%	2/1/25
	4.0% Senior Notes (a)		1/26/15		$	450	99.372	%	$	2.8	4.077	%	4	%	2/1/25
	__________


	(a)	Proceeds from the issuances of these notes were used primarily to partially pay down the amounts then outstanding under our Revolver.

	In connection with these offerings, we incurred financing costs totaling $7.8 million and $4.2 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, which are included in Other assets, net in the consolidated financial statements, and are being amortized to Interest expense over the respective terms of the Senior Unsecured Notes.

	The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility and the Senior Unsecured Notes include customary financial maintenance covenants that require us to maintain certain ratios and benchmarks at the end of each quarter. The Senior Unsecured Credit Facility also contains various customary affirmative and negative covenants applicable to us and our subsidiaries, subject to materiality and other qualifications, baskets and exceptions as outlined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement. We are also required to ensure that the total Restricted Payments (as defined in the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement) in an aggregate amount in any fiscal year does not exceed certain amounts as discussed in the 2014 Annual Report. We were in compliance with all of these covenants at March 31, 2015.

	Non-Recourse Debt

	Non-recourse debt consists of mortgage notes payable, which are collateralized by the assignment of real estate properties with an aggregate carrying value of $3.2 billion and $3.3 billion at March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. At March 31, 2015, our mortgage notes payable bore interest at fixed annual rates ranging from 2.6% to 11.5% and variable contractual annual rates ranging from 1.0% to 7.6%, with maturity dates ranging from May 2015 to 2038.

	Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Impact

	During the three months ended March 31, 2015, the U.S. dollar strengthened against the euro, as the end-of-period rate for the U.S. dollar in relation to the euro at March 31, 2015 decreased by 11.5% to $1.0759 from $1.2156 at December 31, 2014. The impact of this strengthening was an aggregate decrease of $177.2 million in the carrying values of our Non-recourse debt, Senior Unsecured Credit Facility, and 2.0% Senior Euro Notes from December 31, 2014 to March 31, 2015.

	Scheduled Debt Principal Payments

	Scheduled debt principal payments during the remainder of 2015, each of the next four calendar years following December 31, 2015, and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):


	Years Ending December 31,		Total (a)
	2015 (remainder)		$	185,503
	2015 (remainder)		$	185,503
	2016 (b)		556,735
	2016 (b)		556,735
	2017		741,671
	2017		741,671
	2018 (c)		450,867
	2018 (c)		450,867
	2019		99,033
	2019		99,033
	Thereafter through 2038 (d)		2,304,419
	Thereafter through 2038 (d)		2,304,419
			4,338,228
			4,338,228
	Unamortized discount, net (e)		(2,004		)
	Total		$	4,336,224
	Total		$	4,336,224
	__________

(a)	Certain amounts are based on the applicable foreign currency exchange rate at March 31, 2015.

(b)	Includes $250.0 million outstanding under our Term Loan Facility at March 31, 2015, which is scheduled to mature on January 31, 2016 unless extended pursuant to its terms.

(c)	Includes $186.1 million outstanding under our Revolver at March 31, 2015, which is scheduled to mature on January 31, 2018 unless extended pursuant to its terms.

(d)	Includes $1.5 billion of outstanding Senior Unsecured Notes, which are scheduled to mature during 2023 through 2025.

(e)	Represents the unamortized discount on the Senior Unsecured Notes of $8.5 million partially offset by unamortized premium of $6.5 million in the aggregate resulting from the assumption of property-level debt in connection with the CPA®:15 Merger and CPA®:16 Merger.

Commitments_and_Contingencies

Commitments and Contingencies	3 Months Ended
Commitments and Contingencies	Mar. 31, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies

	On December 31, 2013, Mr. Ira Gaines and entities affiliated with him commenced a purported class action (Ira Gaines, et al. v.
	Corporate Property Associates 16 – Global Incorporated, Index. No. 650001/2014, N.Y. Sup. Ct., N.Y. County) against us,
	WPC REIT Merger Sub Inc., CPA®:16 – Global, and the directors of CPA®:16 – Global. On April 11, 2014, we and the other
	defendants filed a motion to dismiss the complaint, as amended, and on October 15, 2014, the judge granted the defendants’
	motion to dismiss the amended complaint in its entirety. The plaintiffs filed a Notice of Appeal on November 24, 2014 and have
	until August 24, 2015 to file that appeal. We currently believe that the plaintiffs' claims are without merit, and if the plaintiffs file a timely appeal, we intend to continue to defend the case vigorously.

	Various other claims and lawsuits arising in the normal course of business are pending against us. The results of these proceedings are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position or results of operations.

StockBased_Compensation_and_Eq

Stock-Based Compensation and Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Stock-Based Compensation and Equity	Stock-Based Compensation and Equity

	Stock-Based Compensation

	We maintain several stock-based compensation plans, which are more fully described in the 2014 Annual Report. There have been no significant changes to the terms and conditions of any of our stock-based compensation plans or arrangements during the three months ended March 31, 2015.

	Restricted and Conditional Awards

	Nonvested restricted stock awards, or RSAs, restricted share units, or RSUs, and performance share units, or PSUs, at March 31, 2015 and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2015 were as follows:


		RSA and RSU Awards							PSU Awards
		Shares			Weighted-Average				Shares		Weighted-Average
					Grant Date						Grant Date
					Fair Value						Fair Value
	Nonvested at January 1, 2015	442,502			$	53.03			877,641		$	32.06

	Granted (a)	161,991			71.43				65,277		85.61

	Vested (b)	(241,752	)		48.32				(792,465	)	56.27

	Forfeited	(1,798	)		58.89				—		—

	Adjustment (c)	—			—				218,363		55.25

	Nonvested at March 31, 2015 (d)	360,943			$	64.42			368,816		$	48.23

	__________

	(a)	The grant date fair value of RSAs and RSUs reflect our stock price on the date of grant. The grant date fair value of PSUs were determined utilizing a Monte Carlo simulation model to generate a range of possible future stock prices for both us and the plan defined peer index over the three-year performance period. To estimate the fair value of PSUs granted during the three months ended March 31, 2015, we used a risk-free interest rate of 1.0% and an expected volatility rate of 20.2% (the plan defined peer index assumes 13.5%) and assumed a dividend yield of zero.

	(b)	The total fair value of shares vested during the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $56.3 million. Employees have the option to take immediate delivery of the shares upon vesting or defer receipt to a future date, pursuant to previously-made deferral elections. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had an obligation to issue 1,439,421 and 848,788 shares, respectively, of our common stock underlying such deferred shares, which is recorded within W. P. Carey stockholders’ equity as a Deferred compensation obligation of $56.7 million and $30.6 million, respectively.

	(c)	Vesting and payment of the PSUs is conditioned upon certain company and market performance goals being met during the relevant three-year performance period. The ultimate number of PSUs to be vested will depend on the extent to which the performance goals are met and can range from zero to three times the original awards. In connection with the payment of the PSUs granted in 2012, which were paid out in February 2015, we adjusted the shares during the three months ended March 31, 2015 to reflect the actual number of shares issued. There was no impact on our consolidated financial statements related to these adjustments, as the initial fair value of our PSUs factored in the variability associated with the performance features of these awards.

	(d)	At March 31, 2015, total unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards was approximately $35.2 million, with an aggregate weighted-average remaining term of 2.1 years.

	During the three months ended March 31, 2015, 47,966 stock options were exercised with an aggregate intrinsic value of $1.8 million. At March 31, 2015, there were 427,799 stock options outstanding, of which 373,690 were exercisable.


	Earnings Per Share

	Under current authoritative guidance for determining earnings per share, all unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to distributions are considered to be participating securities and therefore are included in the computation of earnings per share under the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common shares and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Our unvested RSUs and RSAs contain rights to receive non-forfeitable distribution equivalents, and therefore we apply the two-class method of computing earnings per share. The calculation of earnings per share below excludes the income attributable to the unvested RSUs and RSAs from the numerator and such unvested shares in the denominator. The following table summarizes basic and diluted earnings (in thousands, except share amounts):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2014
	Net income attributable to W. P. Carey	$	36,116			$	115,478

	Allocation of distribution equivalents paid on unvested RSUs and RSAs in excess of income	(123		)		(493		)
	Net income – basic	35,993				114,985

	Income effect of dilutive securities, net of taxes	—				141

	Net income – diluted	$	35,993			$	115,126


	Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic	105,303,679				89,366,055

	Effect of dilutive securities	806,198				1,009,256

	Weighted-average shares outstanding – diluted	106,109,877				90,375,311


Securities totaling 118,397 shares for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was excluded from the earnings per share
computation above as the effect would have been anti-dilutive. For the three months ended March 31, 2015, there were no
potentially dilutive securities excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share.

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest

We account for the noncontrolling interest in WPCI held by a third party as a redeemable noncontrolling interest, as we have an obligation to redeem the interest at fair value, subject to certain conditions pursuant to a put option held by the third party. This obligation is required to be settled in shares of our common stock. The third-party interest is reflected at estimated redemption value for all periods presented. On October 1, 2013, we received a notice from the holder of the noncontrolling interest in WPCI regarding the exercise of the put option, pursuant to which we are required to purchase the third party’s 7.7% interest in WPCI. Pursuant to the terms of the related put agreement, the purchase price is to be determined based on a third-party valuation as of October 31, 2013, which is the end of the month that the put option was exercised. We cannot currently estimate when the redemption will occur and the final redemption amount may differ from our recorded estimate as of March 31, 2015, which was $13.4 million and represented our best estimate of fair value (Note 9).

The following table presents a reconciliation of redeemable noncontrolling interest (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2014
Beginning balance		$	6,071			$	7,436

Redemption value adjustment		7,303				(306		)

Net income		—				262

Distributions		—				(83		)

Change in other comprehensive income		—				(6		)

Ending balance		$	13,374			$	7,303


Transfers to Noncontrolling Interests

The following table presents a reconciliation of the effect of transfers in noncontrolling interest (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2014
Net income attributable to W. P. Carey		$	36,116			$	115,478

Transfers to noncontrolling interest
Decrease in W. P. Carey’s additional paid-in capital for purchases of less-than-wholly-owned investments in connection with the CPA®:16 Merger		—				(42,015		)

Net transfers to noncontrolling interest		—				(42,015		)

Change from net income attributable to W. P. Carey and transfers to noncontrolling interest		$	36,116			$	73,463


Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income

The following tables present a reconciliation of changes in Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income by component for the periods presented (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
	Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments				Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments				Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities			Total
Beginning balance	$	13,597			$	(89,177	)		$	21		$	(75,559	)

Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	28,063				(131,349		)		14			(103,272		)

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Interest expense	608				—				—			608

Other income and (expenses)	(1,853		)		—				—			(1,853		)

Total	(1,245		)		—				—			(1,245		)

Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	26,818				(131,349		)		14			(104,517		)

Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	—				5,143				—			5,143

Ending balance	$	40,415			$	(215,383	)		$	35		$	(174,933	)




	Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments				Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments				Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities			Total
Beginning balance	$	(7,488	)		$	22,793			$	31		$	15,336

Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(4,001		)		4,545				17			561

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Interest expense	701				—				—			701

Other income and (expenses)	384				—				—			384

Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	119				—				—			119

Total	1,204				—				—			1,204

Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,797		)		4,545				17			1,765

Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	—				342				—			342

Ending balance	$	(10,285	)		$	27,680			$	48		$	17,443


Distributions Declared

During the first quarter of 2015, we declared a quarterly distribution of $0.9525 per share, which was paid on April 15, 2015 to stockholders of record on March 31, 2015.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	3 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Income Taxes	Income Taxes

	We elected to be treated as a REIT and believe that we have been organized and have operated in such a manner to maintain our qualification as a REIT for federal and state income tax purposes. As a REIT, we are generally not subject to corporate level federal income taxes on earnings distributed currently to our stockholders. Since inception, we have distributed at least 100 percent of our taxable income annually and intend to do so for the tax year ending December 31, 2015. Accordingly, no provision for federal income taxes has been included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 related to the REIT.

	Certain subsidiaries have elected status as TRSs. A TRS may provide certain services considered impermissible for REITs and may hold assets that REITs may not hold directly. We also own real property in jurisdictions outside the United States through foreign subsidiaries and are subject to income taxes on our pre-tax income earned from properties in such countries. The accompanying consolidated financial statements include an interim tax provision for our TRSs and foreign subsidiaries, as necessary, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. Current income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 was $3.7 million and $13.2 million, respectively.

	Our TRSs and foreign subsidiaries are subject to U.S. federal, state and foreign income taxes; as such, deferred tax assets and liabilities are established for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of assets and liabilities at the enacted tax rates expected to be in effect when the temporary differences reverse. A valuation allowance for deferred tax assets is provided if we believe that more likely than not we will not realize the deferred tax asset based on available evidence at the time the determination is made. A change in circumstances may cause us to change our judgment about whether a deferred tax asset will more likely than not be realized. We generally report any change in the valuation allowance through our income statement in the period in which such changes in circumstances occur. Deferred tax assets (net of valuation allowance) and liabilities for our TRSs and foreign subsidiaries were recorded, as necessary, for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014. As of March 31, 2015 and 2014, we had deferred tax assets of $45.3 million and $20.8 million, respectively; valuation allowances of $19.1 million and $16.2 million, respectively; and deferred tax liabilities of $96.0 million and $89.3 million, respectively. The majority of our deferred tax assets relate to the timing difference between the financial reporting basis and tax basis for stock based compensation expense. The majority of our deferred tax liabilities relate to differences between the tax basis and financial reporting basis of the assets acquired in acquisitions treated as business combinations under generally accepted accounting principles and in which the tax basis of such assets was not stepped up to fair value for income tax purposes. Deferred income tax benefits included within the provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014 were $1.7 million and $10.9 million, respectively.

Property_Dispositions_and_Disc

Property Dispositions and Discontinued Operations	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Property Dispositions and Discontinued Operations	Property Dispositions and Discontinued Operations

	From time to time, we may decide to sell a property. We have an active capital recycling program, with a goal of extending the average lease term through reinvestment, improving portfolio credit quality through dispositions and acquisitions of assets, increasing the asset criticality factor in our portfolio, and/or executing strategic dispositions of assets. We may make a decision to dispose of a property when it is vacant as a result of tenants vacating space, tenants electing not to renew their leases, tenant insolvency, or lease rejection in the bankruptcy process. In such cases, we assess whether we can obtain the highest value from the property by selling it, as opposed to re-leasing it. We may also sell a property when we receive an unsolicited offer or negotiate a price for an investment that is consistent with our strategy for that investment. When it is appropriate to do so, we classify the property as an asset held for sale on our consolidated balance sheet and, for those properties sold or classified as held-for-sale prior to January 1, 2014, the current and prior period results of operations of the property have been reclassified as discontinued operations under current accounting guidance. All property dispositions are recorded within our Real Estate Ownership segment.

	Property Dispositions Included in Continuing Operations

	The results of operations for properties that did not qualify for discontinued operations are included within continuing operations in the consolidated financial statements. Total revenues from these properties were $1.6 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and March 31, 2014, respectively. Net income from the operations of these properties was $2.7 million and $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, inclusive of Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax of $1.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

	2015 — During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we sold seven properties for total proceeds of $13.3 million, net of selling costs, and we recognized a net gain on these sales of $1.2 million, excluding impairment charges totaling $2.3 million recognized in prior years. In connection with those sales that constituted business, during the three months ended March 31, 2015 we allocated goodwill totaling $0.3 million to the cost basis of the properties, for our Real Estate Ownership segment, based on the relative fair value at the time of the sale (Note 8).

	2014 — During the three months ended March 31, 2014, we entered into contracts to sell two properties for a total of $17.4 million. We completed the sale of these properties in 2014.
	In February 2014, a domestic vacant property was foreclosed upon and sold for $4.6 million. The proceeds from the sale were used to partially repay a mortgage loan encumbering this property and another property with an outstanding balance of $6.0 million at the time to the sale. The remaining principal balance was transferred to the other property. In connection with the sale, we recognized a gain on the sale of $0.1 million, which was reflected in Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax in the consolidated statement of income.

	Property Dispositions Included in Discontinued Operations

	The results of operations for properties that have been classified as held-for-sale or have been sold prior to January 1, 2014 and the properties that were acquired as held-for-sale in the CPA®:16 Merger, are reflected in the consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations, net of tax and are summarized as follows (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,

		2015		2014

	Revenues	$	—	$	6,284

	Expenses	—		(1,454		)

	Loss on extinguishment of debt	—		(1,520		)

	Gain on sale of real estate	—		3,096

	Income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	6,406



	2014 — At December 31, 2013, we had nine properties classified as held-for-sale, six of which were sold during the three months ended March 31, 2014. The properties were sold for a total of $34.4 million, net of selling costs, and we recognized a net gain on these sales of $3.0 million, excluding impairment charges totaling $3.1 million previously recognized during 2013. We used a portion of the proceeds to repay a related mortgage loan obligation of $4.2 million and recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.4 million.

	In connection with the CPA®:16 Merger in January 2014, we acquired ten properties, including five properties held by one jointly-owned investment, that were classified as Assets held for sale with a total fair value of $133.0 million. We sold three of these properties during the three months ended March 31, 2014 for a total of $92.8 million, net of selling costs, including seller financing of $15.0 million, and recognized a net gain on these sales of $0.1 million. We used a portion of the proceeds to repay the related mortgage loan obligations totaling $9.6 million and recognized a loss on extinguishment of debt of $1.2 million. The remaining properties were sold during the subsequent quarters in 2014.

Segment_Reporting

Segment Reporting	3 Months Ended
Segment Reporting	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Segment Reporting	Segment Reporting

	We evaluate our results from operations by our two major business segments — Real Estate Ownership and Investment Management (Note 1). The following tables present a summary of comparative results and assets for these business segments (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Real Estate Ownership
	Revenues	$	176,425		$	135,260
	Revenues	$	176,425		$	135,260
	Operating expenses (a)	(105,637		)	(107,226		)
	Interest expense	(47,949		)	(39,075		)
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,238			114,897
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,238			114,897
	Benefit from income taxes	1,273			4,038
	Benefit from income taxes	1,273			4,038
	Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185			81
	Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185			81
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,466		)	(1,389		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	—			(135		)
		—			(135		)
	Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$	30,069		$	106,451
		$	30,069		$	106,451
	Investment Management
	Revenues (b)	$	43,963		$	73,935
	Revenues (b)	$	43,963		$	73,935
	Operating expenses (b) (c)	(34,842		)	(64,379		)
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	179			(328		)
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	179			(328		)
	Provision for income taxes	(3,253		)	(6,291		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			(189		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			(189		)
	Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	—			(262		)
		—			(262		)
	Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$	6,047		$	2,486
		$	6,047		$	2,486
	Total Company
	Revenues (b)	$	220,388		$	209,195
	Revenues (b)	$	220,388		$	209,195
	Operating expenses (a) (b) (c)	(140,479		)	(171,605		)
	Interest expense	(47,949		)	(39,075		)
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,417			114,569
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,417			114,569
	Provision for income taxes	(1,980		)	(2,253		)
	Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185			81
	Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185			81
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,466		)	(1,578		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	—			(135		)
		—			(135		)
	Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	—			(262		)
		—			(262		)
	Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$	36,116		$	108,937
		$	36,116		$	108,937


		Total Long-Lived Assets at (d)						Total Assets at
		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014			March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	Real Estate Ownership	$	5,948,116		$	5,880,958		$	8,531,847	$	8,459,406
	Real Estate Ownership	$	5,948,116		$	5,880,958		$	8,531,847	$	8,459,406
	Investment Management	24,993			25,000			198,683		189,073
	Investment Management	24,993			25,000			198,683		189,073
	Total Company	$	5,973,109		$	5,905,958		$	8,730,530	$	8,648,479
	Total Company	$	5,973,109		$	5,905,958		$	8,730,530	$	8,648,479
	__________

(a)	Includes expenses incurred of $29.5 million related to the CPA®:16 Merger for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

(b)	Included in revenues and operating expenses are reimbursable costs from affiliates totaling $9.6 million and $39.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

(c)	Includes Stock-based compensation expense of $7.0 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, of which $4.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively, were included in the Investment Management segment, respectively.

(d)	Consists of Net investments in real estate and Equity investments in the Managed Programs and real estate. Total long-lived assets for our Investment Management segment consists of our equity investment in CCIF (Note 7).

Basis_of_Presentation_Policies

Basis of Presentation (Policies)	3 Months Ended
Basis of Presentation (Policies)	Mar. 31, 2015
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]
Basis of Consolidation	Basis of Consolidation

	Our consolidated financial statements reflect all of our accounts, including those of our controlled subsidiaries and our tenancy-in-common interests as described below. The portion of equity in a consolidated subsidiary that is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to us is presented as noncontrolling interests. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

	We have an investment in a tenancy-in-common interest in various underlying international properties. Consolidation of this
	investment is not required as such interest does not qualify as a VIE and does not meet the control requirement for consolidation. Accordingly, we account for this investment using the equity method of accounting. We use the equity method of
	accounting because the shared decision-making involved in a tenancy-in-common interest investment provides us with
	significant influence on the operating and financial decisions of this investment. We also have certain investments in wholly-owned tenancy-in-common interests, which we now consolidate after we obtained the remaining interests in the CPA®:16
	Merger.

	At March 31, 2015, we had 18 VIEs. We apply accounting guidance for consolidation of VIEs to certain entities in which the equity investors do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Fixed price purchase and renewal options within a lease as well as certain decision-making rights within a loan can cause us to consider an entity a VIE.

	Additionally, we own interests in single-tenant, net-leased properties leased to companies through noncontrolling interests in partnerships and limited liability companies that we do not control but over which we exercise significant influence. We account for these investments under the equity method of accounting. At times, the carrying value of our equity investments may fall below zero for certain investments. We intend to fund our share of the investments’ future operating deficits should the need arise. However, we have no legal obligation to pay for any of the liabilities of such investments nor do we have any legal obligation to fund operating deficits.
Recent Accounting Requirements	Recent Accounting Requirements

	The following Accounting Standards Updates, or ASUs, promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board are applicable to us:

	ASU 2015-03, Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30). ASU 2015-03 changes the presentation of debt issuance costs, which are currently recognized as a deferred charge (that is, an asset) and requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. ASU 2015-03 does not affect the recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs. ASU 2015-03 is effective for periods beginning after December 15, 2015, early adoption is permitted and retrospective application is required. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2015-03 on our consolidated financial statements

	ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). ASU 2014-09 is a comprehensive new revenue recognition model requiring a company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to a customer at an amount reflecting the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. ASU 2014-09 does not apply to our lease revenues, but will apply to reimbursed tenant costs and revenues generated from our operating properties and our Investment Management business. Additionally, this guidance modifies disclosures regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued a proposed ASU to defer the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. Under the proposal, ASU 2014-09 would be effective beginning in 2018, and early adoption is permitted but not before 2017, the original public company effective date. We are currently evaluating the impact of ASU 2014-09 on our consolidated financial statements and have not yet determined the method by which we will adopt the standard.
Intangible Assets and Liabilities and Goodwill	Amortization of below-market rent and above-market rent intangibles is recorded as an adjustment to Lease revenues; amortization of management contracts, in-place lease and tenant relationship intangibles is included in Depreciation and amortization; and amortization of above-market ground lease and below-market ground lease intangibles is included in Property expenses.
Intangible Assets and Liabilities and Goodwill	In connection with our acquisitions of properties, we have recorded net lease intangibles that are being amortized over periods ranging from one year to 40 years. In addition, we have several ground lease intangibles that are being amortized over periods of up to 250 years. Intangibles relating to in-place lease and tenant relationship, and above-market rent are included in In-place lease and tenant relationship intangible assets, net and Above-market rent intangible assets, net, respectively, in the consolidated financial statements. Below-market ground lease (as lessee), trade name, management contracts, and software license intangibles are included in Other assets, net in the consolidated financial statements. Below-market rent, above-market ground lease (as lessee), and below-market purchase option intangibles are included in Below-market rent and other intangible liabilities, net in the consolidated financial statements.
Fair Value Measurement	The fair value of an asset is defined as the exit price, which is the amount that would either be received when an asset is sold or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The guidance establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers are: Level 1, for which quoted market prices for identical instruments are available in active markets, such as money market funds, equity securities, and U.S. Treasury securities; Level 2, for which there are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the instrument, such as certain derivative instruments including interest rate caps, interest rate swaps, and foreign currency forward contracts; and Level 3, for securities that do not fall into Level 1 or Level 2 and for which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring us to develop our own assumptions.
Impairment	For investments in real estate held for use for which an impairment indicator is identified, we follow a two-step process to determine whether the investment is impaired and to determine the amount of the charge. First, we compare the carrying value of the property’s asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows that we expect the property’s asset group will generate, including any estimated proceeds from the eventual sale of the property’s asset group. If this amount is less than the carrying value, the property’s asset group is considered to be not recoverable. We then measure the impairment charge as the excess of the carrying value of the property’s asset group over the estimated fair value of the property’s asset group, which is primarily determined using market information such as recent comparable sales, broker quotes or third-party appraisals. If relevant market information is not available or is not deemed appropriate, we perform a future net cash flow analysis, discounted for inherent risk associated with each investment.
Earnings Per Share	Under current authoritative guidance for determining earnings per share, all unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to distributions are considered to be participating securities and therefore are included in the computation of earnings per share under the two-class method. The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common shares and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. Our unvested RSUs and RSAs contain rights to receive non-forfeitable distribution equivalents, and therefore we apply the two-class method of computing earnings per share. The calculation of earnings per share below excludes the income attributable to the unvested RSUs and RSAs from the numerator and such unvested shares in the denominator.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	We account for the noncontrolling interest in W. P. Carey International, LLC, or WPCI, held by a third party as a redeemable noncontrolling interest (Note 13). We determined the valuation of redeemable noncontrolling interest using widely accepted valuation techniques, including comparable transaction analysis, comparable public company analysis and discounted cash flow analysis.
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	We account for the noncontrolling interest in WPCI held by a third party as a redeemable noncontrolling interest, as we have an obligation to redeem the interest at fair value, subject to certain conditions pursuant to a put option held by the third party. This obligation is required to be settled in shares of our common stock. The third-party interest is reflected at estimated redemption value for all periods presented.
Discontinued Operations	From time to time, we may decide to sell a property. We have an active capital recycling program, with a goal of extending the average lease term through reinvestment, improving portfolio credit quality through dispositions and acquisitions of assets, increasing the asset criticality factor in our portfolio, and/or executing strategic dispositions of assets. We may make a decision to dispose of a property when it is vacant as a result of tenants vacating space, tenants electing not to renew their leases, tenant insolvency, or lease rejection in the bankruptcy process. In such cases, we assess whether we can obtain the highest value from the property by selling it, as opposed to re-leasing it. We may also sell a property when we receive an unsolicited offer or negotiate a price for an investment that is consistent with our strategy for that investment. When it is appropriate to do so, we classify the property as an asset held for sale on our consolidated balance sheet and, for those properties sold or classified as held-for-sale prior to January 1, 2014, the current and prior period results of operations of the property have been reclassified as discontinued operations under current accounting guidance.

Merger_with_CPA16_Global_Table

Merger with CPAÂ®:16 â€“ Global (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Business Combinations [Abstract]
Business Acquisition, Pro Forma Information	(in thousands, except share and per share amounts):


			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
	Pro forma total revenues		$	234,125


	Pro forma net income from continuing operations, net of tax		$	37,940

	Pro forma net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		(572		)
	Pro forma net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(262		)
	Pro forma net income from continuing operations, net of tax attributable to W. P. Carey (a)		$	37,106


	Pro forma earnings per share: (a)
	Basic		$	0.37

	Diluted		$	0.37


	Pro forma weighted-average shares: (b)
	Basic		99,724,441

	Diluted		100,615,300

	___________

	(a)	The pro forma income attributable to W. P. Carey for the three months ended March 31, 2014 reflects the following income and expenses recognized related to the CPA®:16 Merger as if the CPA®:16 Merger had taken place on January 1, 2013: (i) combined merger expenses through December 31, 2014; (ii) an aggregate gain on change in control of interests; and (iii) an income tax expense from a permanent difference upon recognition of deferred revenue associated with accelerated vesting of shares previously issued by CPA®:16 – Global for asset management and performance fees in connection with the CPA®:16 Merger.

	(b)	The pro forma weighted-average shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2014 were determined as if the 30,729,878 shares of our common stock issued to CPA®:16 – Global stockholders in the CPA®:16 Merger were issued on January 1, 2013.

Agreements_and_Transactions_wi1

Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Related Party Transactions [Abstract]
Schedule Of Related Party Transactions	The following tables present a summary of revenue earned and/or cash received from the Managed REITs for the periods indicated, included in the consolidated financial statements (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	Structuring revenue	$	21,720	$	17,750

	Asset management revenue	11,112		9,754

	Reimbursable costs from affiliates	9,607		39,732

	Distributions of Available Cash	8,806		10,445

	Dealer manager fees	1,274		6,676

	Incentive, termination and subordinated disposition revenue	203		—

	Interest income on deferred acquisition fees and loans to affiliates	153		175

	Deferred revenue earned	—		786

		$	52,875	$	85,318



		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015		2014
	CPA®:16 – Global (a)	$	—	7,998

	CPA®:17 – Global (b)	21,676		15,828

	CPA®:18 – Global (b)	18,940		56,176

	CWI (b)	12,259		5,316

		$	52,875	$	85,318

	___________

	(a)	The amount shown for the three months ended March 31, 2014 reflects transactions through January 31, 2014, the date of the CPA®:16 Merger.

	(b)	The advisory agreements with each of the CPA® REITs are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2015 and the advisory agreement with CWI is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2015 unless otherwise renewed.
Schedule of Balances Due to and From Related Party	The following table presents a summary of amounts included in Due from affiliates (in thousands):


		31-Mar-15		31-Dec-14
	Deferred acquisition fees receivable	25,170		$	26,913

	Asset management fees receivable	5,991		—

	Current acquisition fees receivable	6,839		2,463

	Reimbursable costs	5,797		301

	Accounts receivable	4,982		2,680

	Organization and offering costs	2,421		2,120

		$	51,200	$	34,477

Net_Investments_in_Properties_

Net Investments in Properties (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Real Estate [Abstract]
Net Investments in Real Estate Properties	Real estate, which consists of land and buildings leased to others, at cost, and which are subject to operating leases, and real estate under construction, is summarized as follows (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Land	$	1,155,190		$	1,146,704

	Buildings	3,965,923			3,829,981

	Real estate under construction	38,026			29,997

	Less: Accumulated depreciation	(281,041		)	(253,627		)
		$	4,878,098		$	4,753,055

	Operating real estate, which consists of our investments in two hotels and two self-storage properties, at cost, is summarized as follows (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014
	Land	$	7,074		$	7,074

	Buildings	77,841			77,811

	Less: Accumulated depreciation	(5,912		)	(4,866		)
		$	79,003		$	80,019

Disclosure of Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale	Below is a summary of our properties held for sale (in thousands):


		31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Real estate, net	$	—		$	5,969

	Above-market rent intangible assets, net	—			838

	In-place lease intangible assets, net	—			448

	Assets held for sale	$	—		$	7,255

Finance_Receivables_Tables

Finance Receivables (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Receivables [Abstract]
Capital Leases Net Investment In Direct Financing Leases
	Net investments in direct financing leases is summarized as follows (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Minimum lease payments receivable	$	847,087			$	904,788

	Unguaranteed residual value	769,425				818,334

		1,616,512				1,723,122

	Less: unearned income	(849,592		)		(906,896		)
		$	766,920			$	816,226

Finance Receivables Credit Quality Indicators	A summary of our finance receivables by internal credit quality rating is as follows (dollars in thousands):


			Number of Tenants / Obligors at				Carrying Value at
	Internal Credit Quality Indicator		March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014		March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	1		3		3		$	134,071	$	79,343

	2		3		4		27,217		37,318

	3		22		22		497,960		592,631

	4		7		7		118,490		127,782

	5		—		—		—		—

							$	777,738	$	837,074

Equity_Investment_in_Real_Esta1

Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures [Abstract]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments	The following table sets forth certain information about our investments in the Managed Programs (dollars in thousands):


			% of Outstanding Shares Owned at						Carrying Amount of Investment at
	Fund		31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14			March 31, 2015 (a) (b)			December 31, 2014 (a) (b)
	CPA®:17 – Global (c)		2.795	%		2.676	%		$	81,589		$	79,429
	CPA®:17 – Global (c)		2.795	%		2.676	%		$	81,589		$	79,429
	CPA®:17 – Global operating partnership (d)		0.009	%		0.009	%		—			—
	CPA®:17 – Global operating partnership (d)		0.009	%		0.009	%		—			—
	CPA®:18 – Global		0.302	%		0.221	%		4,061			2,784
	CPA®:18 – Global		0.302	%		0.221	%		4,061			2,784
	CPA®:18 – Global operating partnership (e)		0.034	%		0.034	%		223			209
	CPA®:18 – Global operating partnership (e)		0.034	%		0.034	%		223			209
	CWI		1.155	%		1.088	%		13,326			13,940
	CWI		1.155	%		1.088	%		13,326			13,940
	CWI operating partnership (f)		0.015	%		0.015	%		—			—
	CWI operating partnership (f)		0.015	%		0.015	%		—			—
	Carey Credit Income Fund (g)		50	%		50	%		24,993			25,000
	Carey Credit Income Fund (g)		50	%		50	%		24,993			25,000
									$	124,192		$	121,362
									$	124,192		$	121,362
	___________

	(a)	Includes asset management fees receivable, for which 125,774 shares and 48,799 class A shares of common stock of CPA®:17 – Global and CPA®:18 – Global, respectively, were issued during the second quarter of 2015.

	(b)	At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the aggregate unamortized basis differences on our equity investments in the Managed Programs were $21.4 million and $20.2 million, respectively.

	(c)	We received distributions of $1.4 million and $1.0 million from this affiliate during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(d)	We received distributions of $6.1 million and $4.7 million from this affiliate during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(e)	We received distributions of $0.9 million and $0.1 million from this affiliate during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(f)	We received distributions of $1.8 million and $0.9 million from this affiliate during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(g)	As of March 31, 2015, CCIF has not yet admitted any additional shareholders other than our joint venture partner.

	The following tables present estimated combined summarized financial information for the Managed Programs. Amounts provided are expected total amounts attributable to the Managed Programs and do not represent our proportionate share (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Real estate, net	$	5,739,527			$	5,969,011
	Real estate, net	$	5,739,527			$	5,969,011
	Other assets	2,644,280				2,293,065
	Other assets	2,644,280				2,293,065
	Total assets	8,383,807				8,262,076
	Total assets	8,383,807				8,262,076
	Debt	(3,527,119		)		(3,387,795		)
	Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(532,209		)		(496,857		)
	Total liabilities	(4,059,328		)		(3,884,652		)
	Noncontrolling interests	(160,586		)		(170,249		)
	Stockholders’ equity	$	4,163,893			$	4,207,175
	Stockholders’ equity	$	4,163,893			$	4,207,175



		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2014
	Revenues	235,710				$	193,830
	Revenues	235,710				$	193,830
	Expenses	(233,363		)		(189,055		)
	Income from continuing operations	$	2,347			$	4,775
	Income from continuing operations	$	2,347			$	4,775
	Net loss attributable to the Managed Programs (a) (b)	$	(9,082	)		$	(3,015	)
___________

(a)	Inclusive of impairment charges recognized by the Managed Programs totaling $0.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. These impairment charges reduced our income earned from these investments by less than $0.1 million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. There were no such impairment charges recognized by the Managed Programs during the three months ended March 31, 2014.

(b)	Amounts included net gains on sale of real estate recorded by the Managed Programs totaling $2.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015.
The following table presents Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate, which represents our proportionate share of the income or losses of these investments as well as certain adjustments related to other-than-temporary impairment charges and amortization of basis differences related to purchase accounting adjustments (in thousands):


	Three Months Ended March 31,
	2015				2014
Proportionate share of earnings from equity investments in the Managed Programs	$	307			$	782
	$	307			$	782
Amortization of basis differences on equity investments in the Managed Programs	(295		)		(390		)
Other-than-temporary impairment charges on the Special Member Interest in CPA®:16 – Global’s operating partnership	—				(735		)
	—				(735		)
Distributions of Available Cash (Note 4)	8,806				10,445
Distributions of Available Cash (Note 4)	8,806				10,445
Deferred revenue earned (Note 4)	—				786
Deferred revenue earned (Note 4)	—				786
Total equity earnings from the Managed Programs	8,818				10,888
Total equity earnings from the Managed Programs	8,818				10,888
Equity earnings from other equity investments	3,816				3,956
Equity earnings from other equity investments	3,816				3,956
Amortization of basis differences on other equity investments	(911		)		(582		)
Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	$	11,723			$	14,262
	$	11,723			$	14,262
The following table sets forth our ownership interests in our equity investments in real estate, excluding the Managed Programs, and their respective carrying values (dollars in thousands):


				Ownership Interest at		Carrying Value at
Lessee		Co-owner(s)		March 31, 2015		March 31, 2015				December 31, 2014
Existing Equity Investments (a) (b)
C1000 Logistiek Vastgoed B.V. (c)		CPA®:17 – Global		15%		$	9,429			$	11,192
C1000 Logistiek Vastgoed B.V. (c)		CPA®:17 – Global		15%		$	9,429			$	11,192
Waldaschaff Automotive GmbH and Wagon Automotive Nagold GmbH		CPA®:17 – Global		33%		6,192				6,949
		CPA®:17 – Global		33%		6,192				6,949
Wanbishi Archives Co. Ltd.		CPA®:17 – Global		3%		344				341
Wanbishi Archives Co. Ltd.		CPA®:17 – Global		3%		344				341
						15,965				18,482
						15,965				18,482
Equity Investments Acquired in the CPA®:16 Merger
The New York Times Company		CPA®:17 – Global		45%		72,208				72,476
The New York Times Company		CPA®:17 – Global		45%		72,208				72,476
Frontier Spinning Mills, Inc.		CPA®:17 – Global		40%		15,639				15,609
Frontier Spinning Mills, Inc.		CPA®:17 – Global		40%		15,639				15,609
Actebis Peacock GmbH (a)		CPA®:17 – Global		30%		5,979				6,369
Actebis Peacock GmbH (a)		CPA®:17 – Global		30%		5,979				6,369
						93,826				94,454
						93,826				94,454
Recently Acquired Equity Investment
Beach House JV, LLC (d)		Third Party		N/A(d)		15,105				15,105
Beach House JV, LLC (d)		Third Party		N/A(d)		15,105				15,105
						$	124,896			$	128,041
						$	124,896			$	128,041
___________

(a)	The carrying value of this investment is affected by the impact of fluctuations in the exchange rate of the foreign currency.

(b)	Represents equity investments we acquired prior to January 1, 2014.

(c)	This investment represents a tenancy-in-common interest, whereby the property is encumbered by the debt for which we are jointly and severally liable. For this investment, the co-obligor is CPA®:17 – Global and the amount due under the arrangement was approximately $72.8 million at March 31, 2015. Of this amount, $10.9 million represents the amount we agreed to pay and is included within the carrying value of the investment at March 31, 2015.

(d)	In March 2014, we received a preferred equity position in Beach House JV, LLC, as part of the sale of the Soho House investment. During the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recognized $0.3 million of income and distribution related to this investment, which is included in Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate in the consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangibles1

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill And Intangible Assets Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule Of Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Liabilities By Major Class	In connection with our investment activity during the three months ended March 31, 2015, we recorded net lease intangibles comprised as follows (life in years, dollars in thousands):


		Weighted-Average Life		Amount
	Amortizable Intangible Assets
	In-place lease	13.9		$	39,855

	Above-market rent	15.3		17,318

	Below-market ground lease	223.4		6,963

				$	64,136


	Amortizable Intangible Liabilities
	Below-market rent	14.6		(6,492		)
				$	(6,492	)
Schedule Of Goodwill	The following table presents a reconciliation of our goodwill (in thousands):


		Real Estate Ownership				Investment Management			Total
	Balance at January 1, 2015	$	628,808			$	63,607		$	692,415

	Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held-for-sale	(303		)		—			(303		)

	Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	(9,489		)		—			(9,489		)

	Balance at March 31, 2015	$	619,016			$	63,607		$	682,623

Schedule Of Intangible Assets And Goodwill	Intangible assets, intangible liabilities, and goodwill are summarized as follows (in thousands):


		March 31, 2015										December 31, 2014
		Gross Carrying Amount				Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount			Gross Carrying Amount			Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
	Amortizable Intangible Assets
	Management contracts	$	32,765			$	(32,765	)	$	—		$	32,765		$	(32,765	)	$	—

	Internal-use software development costs	18,044				(617		)	17,427			17,584			(26		)	17,558

		50,809				(33,382		)	17,427			50,349			(32,791		)	17,558

	Lease Intangibles:
	In-place lease and tenant relationship	1,166,486				(213,028		)	953,458			1,185,692			(191,873		)	993,819

	Above-market rent	641,401				(130,715		)	510,686			639,370			(116,573		)	522,797

	Below-market ground lease	22,825				(512		)	22,313			17,771			(435		)	17,336

		1,830,712				(344,255		)	1,486,457			1,842,833			(308,881		)	1,533,952

	Unamortizable Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
	Goodwill	682,623				—			682,623			692,415			—			692,415

	Trade name	3,975				—			3,975			3,975			—			3,975

		686,598				—			686,598			696,390			—			696,390

	Total intangible assets	$	2,568,119			$	(377,637	)	$	2,190,482		$	2,589,572		$	(341,672	)	$	2,247,900


	Amortizable Intangible Liabilities
	Below-market rent	$	(171,535	)		$	25,855		$	(145,680	)	$	(169,231	)	$	23,039		$	(146,192	)

	Above-market ground lease	(13,026		)		1,291			(11,735		)	(13,311		)	1,144			(12,167		)

		(184,561		)		27,146			(157,415		)	(182,542		)	24,183			(158,359		)

	Unamortizable Intangible Liabilities
	Below-market purchase option	(16,711		)		—			(16,711		)	(16,711		)	—			(16,711		)

	Total intangible liabilities	$	(201,272	)		$	27,146		$	(174,126	)	$	(199,253	)	$	24,183		$	(175,070	)

Schedule Of Finite Lived Intangible Assets Future Amortization Expense	Based on the intangible assets and liabilities recorded at March 31, 2015, scheduled annual net amortization of intangibles for the remainder of 2015, each of the next four calendar years following December 31, 2015, and thereafter is as follows (in thousands):


	Years Ending December 31,		Net Decrease in				Increase to Amortization/			Net
			Lease Revenues				Property Expenses
	2015 (remainder)		$	39,969			$	84,187		$	124,156

	2016		51,797				110,196			161,993

	2017		49,014				106,368			155,382

	2018		45,788				96,801			142,589

	2019		41,985				91,783			133,768

	Thereafter		136,453				492,128			628,581

	Total		$	365,006			$	981,463		$	1,346,469

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Schedule Of Other Financial Instruments In Carrying Values And Fair Values	Our other financial instruments had the following carrying values and fair values as of the dates shown (dollars in thousands):


				31-Mar-15						31-Dec-14
			Level	Carrying Value			Fair Value			Carrying Value			Fair Value
	Non-recourse debt (a)		3	$	2,420,620		$	2,469,545		$	2,532,683		$	2,574,437

	Senior Unsecured Notes (b)		2	1,479,473			1,506,779			498,345			527,029

	Senior Unsecured Credit Facility (c) (d)		2	436,131			436,132			1,057,518			1,057,519

	Deferred acquisition fees receivable (f)		3	25,170			25,835			26,913			28,027

	Notes receivable (a) (e)		3	10,816			9,764			20,848			19,604

	__________

	(a)	We determined the estimated fair value of these financial instruments using a discounted cash flow model with rates that take into account the credit of the tenant/obligor, where applicable, and interest rate risk. We also considered the value of the underlying collateral taking into account the quality of the collateral, the credit quality of the tenant/obligor, the time until maturity and the current market interest rate.

	(b)	We determined the estimated fair value of the Senior Unsecured Notes (Note 11) using quoted market prices in an open market with limited trading volume.

	(c)	We determined the estimated fair value of our Senior Unsecured Credit Facility (Note 11) using a discounted cash flow model with rates that take into account the market-based credit spread and our credit rating.

	(d)	In January 2015, we utilized the proceeds of our offerings of the 2.0% Senior Euro Notes and 4.0% Senior Notes to pay down a portion of the amount outstanding under the Revolver (Note 11).

	(e)	Our B-note was repaid in full in February 2015 (Note 6).

	(f)	We determined the estimated fair value of our deferred acquisition fees receivable based on an estimate of discounted cash flows using two significant unobservable inputs, which are the leverage adjusted unsecured spread and an illiquidity adjustment with a weighted-average range of 107 - 355 basis points and 50 - 100 basis points, respectively, at March 31, 2015. Significant increases or decreases to these inputs in isolation would result in a significant change in the fair value measurement.
Schedule Of Fair Value Impairment Charges Using Unobservable Inputs Nonrecurring Basis	The following table presents information about our other assets that were measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015						Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Fair Value			Total Impairment			Fair Value			Total Impairment
		Measurements			Charges			Measurements			Charges
	Impairment Charges
	Real estate	$	5,294		$	2,683		$	—		$	—

	Equity investments in real estate	—			—			—			735

					$	2,683					$	735

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der1

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Derivative Instruments in Statement of Financial Position, Fair Value	The following table sets forth certain information regarding our derivative instruments (in thousands):


	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments		Balance Sheet Location		Asset Derivatives Fair Value at							Liability Derivatives Fair Value at
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments		Balance Sheet Location		31-Mar-15				31-Dec-14			31-Mar-15			31-Dec-14
	Interest rate cap		Other assets, net		$	—			$	3		$	—		$	—
	Interest rate cap		Other assets, net		$	—			$	3		$	—		$	—
	Interest rate swaps		Other assets, net		—				285			—			—
	Interest rate swaps		Other assets, net		—				285			—			—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		Other assets, net		41,777				16,307			—			—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		Other assets, net		41,777				16,307			—			—
	Foreign currency collars		Other assets, net		6,050				—						—
	Foreign currency collars		Other assets, net		6,050				—						—
	Interest rate swaps		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		—				—			(6,214		)	(5,660		)
	Interest rate swaps		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		—				—			(6,214		)	(5,660		)
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Stock warrants		Other assets, net		3,417				3,753			—			—
	Stock warrants		Other assets, net		3,417				3,753			—			—
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Other assets, net		3				—			—			—
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Other assets, net		3				—			—			—
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		—				—			(5,679		)	(7,496		)
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities		—				—			(5,679		)	(7,496		)
	Total derivatives				$	51,247			$	20,348		$	(11,893	)	$	(13,156	)
	Total derivatives				$	51,247			$	20,348		$	(11,893	)	$	(13,156	)
	__________

	(a)	These interest rate swaps do not qualify for hedge accounting; however, they do protect against fluctuations in interest rates related to the underlying variable-rate debt.
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Effect on Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	The following tables present the impact of our derivative instruments in the consolidated financial statements (in thousands):


			Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion) (a)
			Three Months Ended March 31,
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		2015				2014
	Interest rate swaps		$	(1,182	)		$	(186	)
	Interest rate caps		(1		)		(17		)
	Foreign currency forward contracts		21,590				(2,664		)
	Foreign currency forward contracts		21,590				(2,664		)
	Foreign currency collars		6,110				—
	Foreign currency collars		6,110				—
	Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships (b)
	Foreign currency forward contracts		3,657				—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		3,657				—
	Total		$	30,174			$	(2,867	)
	Total		$	30,174			$	(2,867	)



					Amount of (Loss) Gain Reclassified from Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion) (c)
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income		2015				2014
	Interest rate swaps and caps		Interest expense		$	(608	)		$	(701	)
	Foreign currency forward contracts		Other income and (expenses)		1,853				(384		)
	Foreign currency forward contracts		Other income and (expenses)		1,853				(384		)
	Total				$	1,245			$	(1,085	)
	Total				$	1,245			$	(1,085	)
	__________

	(a)	Excludes net gains recognized on unconsolidated jointly-owned investments of $0.4 million and $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(b)	The effective portion of the change in fair value and the settlement of these contracts are reported in the foreign currency translation adjustment section of Other comprehensive (loss) income until the underlying investment is sold, at which time we reclassify the gain or loss to earnings.

	(c)	Excludes net gains recognized on unconsolidated jointly-owned investments of $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. There were no such gains or losses recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2015.
Schedule of Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance

					Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
	Derivatives Not in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income		Three Months Ended March 31,
	Derivatives Not in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships		Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income		2015				2014
	Interest rate swaps		Other income and (expenses)		$	973			$	478
	Interest rate swaps		Other income and (expenses)		$	973			$	478
	Foreign currency collars		Other income and (expenses)		362				—
	Foreign currency collars		Other income and (expenses)		362				—
	Stock warrants		Other income and (expenses)		(335		)		—
	Stock warrants		Other income and (expenses)		(335		)		—
	Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Interest expense		148				—
	Interest rate swaps (a)		Interest expense		148				—
	Foreign currency collars		Other income and (expenses)		12				—
	Foreign currency collars		Other income and (expenses)		12				—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		Other income and (expenses)		5				—
	Foreign currency forward contracts		Other income and (expenses)		5				—
	Total				$	1,165			$	478
	Total				$	1,165			$	478
	__________

	(a)	Relates to the ineffective portion of the hedging relationship.
Schedule of Derivative Instruments	The following table presents the foreign currency derivative contracts we had outstanding at March 31, 2015, which were designated as cash flow hedges (currency in thousands):


			Number of Instruments		Notional				Fair Value at
	Foreign Currency Derivatives		Number of Instruments		Amount				March 31, 2015 (a)
	Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
	Foreign currency forward contracts		64		149,058		EUR		$	32,771
	Foreign currency forward contracts		64		149,058		EUR		$	32,771
	Foreign currency forward contracts		15		8,020		GBP		646
	Foreign currency forward contracts		15		8,020		GBP		646
	Foreign currency forward contracts		19		23,902		AUD		2,138
	Foreign currency forward contracts		19		23,902		AUD		2,138
	Foreign currency collars		19		83,125		EUR		5,416
	Foreign currency collars		19		83,125		EUR		5,416
	Foreign currency collars		7		12,250		GBP		634
	Foreign currency collars		7		12,250		GBP		634
	Designated as Net Investment Hedging Instruments
	Foreign currency forward contracts		5		84,522		AUD		6,222
	Foreign currency forward contracts		5		84,522		AUD		6,222
									$	47,827
									$	47,827
	__________

	(a)	Fair value amounts are based on the applicable exchange rate of the foreign currency at March 31, 2015.
	The interest rate swaps and cap that we had outstanding on our consolidated subsidiaries at March 31, 2015 are summarized as follows (currency in thousands):


			Number of Instruments		Notional				Fair Value at
					Amount				March 31, 2015 (a)
	Interest Rate Derivatives
	Interest Rate Derivatives
	Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate swaps		13		125,090		USD		$	(5,439	)
	Interest rate swaps		13		125,090		USD		$	(5,439	)
	Interest rate swaps		1		6,085		EUR		(775		)
	Interest rate swaps		1		6,085		EUR		(775		)
	Interest rate cap (b)		1		44,792		EUR		—
	Interest rate cap (b)		1		44,792		EUR		—
	Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate swaps (c)		3		106,753		EUR		(5,679		)
	Interest rate swaps (c)		3		106,753		EUR		(5,679		)
	Interest rate swaps (c)		1		3,224		USD		3
	Interest rate swaps (c)		1		3,224		USD		3
									$	(11,890	)
	__________

	(a)	Fair value amounts are based on the exchange rate of the euro at March 31, 2015, as applicable.

	(b)	The applicable interest rate of the related debt was 1.0%, which were below the strike prices of the caps of 3.0% at March 31, 2015.

	(c)	These interest rate swaps do not qualify for hedge accounting; however, they do protect against fluctuations in interest rates related to the underlying variable-rate debt.

Debt_Tables

Debt (Tables)	3 Months Ended
Debt (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Schedule of Debt	The following table presents a summary of our Senior Unsecured Notes (dollars in millions):


	Notes		Issue Date		Principal Amount		Price of Par Value		Discount		Effective Interest Rate		Coupon Rate		Maturity Date
	4.6% Senior Notes		3/14/14		$	500	99.639	%	$	1.8	4.645	%	4.6	%	4/1/24
	4.6% Senior Notes		3/14/14		$	500	99.639	%	$	1.8	4.645	%	4.6	%	4/1/24
	2.0% Senior Euro Notes (a)		1/21/15		€	500	99.22	%	$	4.6	2.107	%	2	%	1/20/23
	2.0% Senior Euro Notes (a)		1/21/15		€	500	99.22	%	$	4.6	2.107	%	2	%	1/20/23
	4.0% Senior Notes (a)		1/26/15		$	450	99.372	%	$	2.8	4.077	%	4	%	2/1/25
	4.0% Senior Notes (a)		1/26/15		$	450	99.372	%	$	2.8	4.077	%	4	%	2/1/25
	__________


	(a)	Proceeds from the issuances of these notes were used primarily to partially pay down the amounts then outstanding under our Revolver.
	Scheduled debt principal payments during the remainder of 2015, each of the next four calendar years following December 31, 2015, and thereafter are as follows (in thousands):


	Years Ending December 31,		Total (a)
	2015 (remainder)		$	185,503
	2015 (remainder)		$	185,503
	2016 (b)		556,735
	2016 (b)		556,735
	2017		741,671
	2017		741,671
	2018 (c)		450,867
	2018 (c)		450,867
	2019		99,033
	2019		99,033
	Thereafter through 2038 (d)		2,304,419
	Thereafter through 2038 (d)		2,304,419
			4,338,228
			4,338,228
	Unamortized discount, net (e)		(2,004		)
	Total		$	4,336,224
	Total		$	4,336,224
	__________

	(a)	Certain amounts are based on the applicable foreign currency exchange rate at March 31, 2015.

	(b)	Includes $250.0 million outstanding under our Term Loan Facility at March 31, 2015, which is scheduled to mature on January 31, 2016 unless extended pursuant to its terms.

	(c)	Includes $186.1 million outstanding under our Revolver at March 31, 2015, which is scheduled to mature on January 31, 2018 unless extended pursuant to its terms.

	(d)	Includes $1.5 billion of outstanding Senior Unsecured Notes, which are scheduled to mature during 2023 through 2025.

	(e)	Represents the unamortized discount on the Senior Unsecured Notes of $8.5 million partially offset by unamortized premium of $6.5 million in the aggregate resulting from the assumption of property-level debt in connection with the CPA®:15 Merger and CPA®:16 Merger.

StockBased_Compensation_and_Eq1

Stock-Based Compensation and Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Equity [Abstract]
Schedule of Share Based Compensation Stock Option Activity	Nonvested restricted stock awards, or RSAs, restricted share units, or RSUs, and performance share units, or PSUs, at March 31, 2015 and changes during the three months ended March 31, 2015 were as follows:


		RSA and RSU Awards							PSU Awards
		Shares			Weighted-Average				Shares			Weighted-Average
					Grant Date							Grant Date
					Fair Value							Fair Value
	Nonvested at January 1, 2015	442,502			$	53.03			877,641			$	32.06

	Granted (a)	161,991			71.43				65,277			85.61

	Vested (b)	(241,752	)		48.32				(792,465	)		56.27

	Forfeited	(1,798	)		58.89				—			—

	Adjustment (c)	—			—				218,363			55.25

	Nonvested at March 31, 2015 (d)	360,943			$	64.42			368,816			$	48.23

	__________

	(a)	The grant date fair value of RSAs and RSUs reflect our stock price on the date of grant. The grant date fair value of PSUs were determined utilizing a Monte Carlo simulation model to generate a range of possible future stock prices for both us and the plan defined peer index over the three-year performance period. To estimate the fair value of PSUs granted during the three months ended March 31, 2015, we used a risk-free interest rate of 1.0% and an expected volatility rate of 20.2% (the plan defined peer index assumes 13.5%) and assumed a dividend yield of zero.

	(b)	The total fair value of shares vested during the three months ended March 31, 2015 was $56.3 million. Employees have the option to take immediate delivery of the shares upon vesting or defer receipt to a future date, pursuant to previously-made deferral elections. At March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had an obligation to issue 1,439,421 and 848,788 shares, respectively, of our common stock underlying such deferred shares, which is recorded within W. P. Carey stockholders’ equity as a Deferred compensation obligation of $56.7 million and $30.6 million, respectively.

	(c)	Vesting and payment of the PSUs is conditioned upon certain company and market performance goals being met during the relevant three-year performance period. The ultimate number of PSUs to be vested will depend on the extent to which the performance goals are met and can range from zero to three times the original awards. In connection with the payment of the PSUs granted in 2012, which were paid out in February 2015, we adjusted the shares during the three months ended March 31, 2015 to reflect the actual number of shares issued. There was no impact on our consolidated financial statements related to these adjustments, as the initial fair value of our PSUs factored in the variability associated with the performance features of these awards.

	(d)	At March 31, 2015, total unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards was approximately $35.2 million, with an aggregate weighted-average remaining term of 2.1 years.
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation	The following table summarizes basic and diluted earnings (in thousands, except share amounts):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015				2014
	Net income attributable to W. P. Carey	$	36,116			$	115,478

	Allocation of distribution equivalents paid on unvested RSUs and RSAs in excess of income	(123		)		(493		)
	Net income – basic	35,993				114,985

	Income effect of dilutive securities, net of taxes	—				141

	Net income – diluted	$	35,993			$	115,126


	Weighted-average shares outstanding – basic	105,303,679				89,366,055

	Effect of dilutive securities	806,198				1,009,256

	Weighted-average shares outstanding – diluted	106,109,877				90,375,311

Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	The following table presents a reconciliation of the effect of transfers in noncontrolling interest (in thousands):


			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015				2014
	Net income attributable to W. P. Carey		$	36,116			$	115,478

	Transfers to noncontrolling interest
	Decrease in W. P. Carey’s additional paid-in capital for purchases of less-than-wholly-owned investments in connection with the CPA®:16 Merger		—				(42,015		)

	Net transfers to noncontrolling interest		—				(42,015		)

	Change from net income attributable to W. P. Carey and transfers to noncontrolling interest		$	36,116			$	73,463

	The following table presents a reconciliation of redeemable noncontrolling interest (in thousands):


			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2015				2014
	Beginning balance		$	6,071			$	7,436

	Redemption value adjustment		7,303				(306		)

	Net income		—				262

	Distributions		—				(83		)

	Change in other comprehensive income		—				(6		)

	Ending balance		$	13,374			$	7,303

Reclassification Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income	The following tables present a reconciliation of changes in Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income by component for the periods presented (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31, 2015
		Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments				Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments				Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities				Total
	Beginning balance	$	13,597			$	(89,177	)		$	21			$	(75,559	)

	Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications	28,063				(131,349		)		14				(103,272		)

	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
	Interest expense	608				—				—				608

	Other income and (expenses)	(1,853		)		—				—				(1,853		)

	Total	(1,245		)		—				—				(1,245		)

	Net current period other comprehensive income (loss)	26,818				(131,349		)		14				(104,517		)

	Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	—				5,143				—				5,143

	Ending balance	$	40,415			$	(215,383	)		$	35			$	(174,933	)




		Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
		Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments				Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments				Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities				Total
	Beginning balance	$	(7,488	)		$	22,793			$	31			$	15,336

	Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	(4,001		)		4,545				17				561

	Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
	Interest expense	701				—				—				701

	Other income and (expenses)	384				—				—				384

	Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate	119				—				—				119

	Total	1,204				—				—				1,204

	Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	(2,797		)		4,545				17				1,765

	Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	—				342				—				342

	Ending balance	$	(10,285	)		$	27,680			$	48			$	17,443

Property_Dispositions_and_Disc1

Property Dispositions and Discontinued Operations (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]
Schedule of Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations, Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures [Table Text Block]	The results of operations for properties that have been classified as held-for-sale or have been sold prior to January 1, 2014 and the properties that were acquired as held-for-sale in the CPA®:16 Merger, are reflected in the consolidated financial statements as discontinued operations, net of tax and are summarized as follows (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,

		2015		2014

	Revenues	$	—	$	6,284

	Expenses	—		(1,454		)

	Loss on extinguishment of debt	—		(1,520		)

	Gain on sale of real estate	—		3,096

	Income from discontinued operations	$	—	$	6,406

Segment_Reporting_Tables

Segment Reporting (Tables)	3 Months Ended
Segment Reporting (Tables)	Mar. 31, 2015
Segment Reporting [Abstract]
Reconciliation of Operating Profit (Loss) from Segments to Consolidated	The following tables present a summary of comparative results and assets for these business segments (in thousands):


		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2015			2014
	Real Estate Ownership
	Revenues	$	176,425		$	135,260
	Revenues	$	176,425		$	135,260
	Operating expenses (a)	(105,637		)	(107,226		)
	Interest expense	(47,949		)	(39,075		)
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,238			114,897
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,238			114,897
	Benefit from income taxes	1,273			4,038
	Benefit from income taxes	1,273			4,038
	Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185			81
	Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185			81
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,466		)	(1,389		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	—			(135		)
		—			(135		)
	Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$	30,069		$	106,451
		$	30,069		$	106,451
	Investment Management
	Revenues (b)	$	43,963		$	73,935
	Revenues (b)	$	43,963		$	73,935
	Operating expenses (b) (c)	(34,842		)	(64,379		)
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	179			(328		)
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	179			(328		)
	Provision for income taxes	(3,253		)	(6,291		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			(189		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			(189		)
	Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	—			(262		)
		—			(262		)
	Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$	6,047		$	2,486
		$	6,047		$	2,486
	Total Company
	Revenues (b)	$	220,388		$	209,195
	Revenues (b)	$	220,388		$	209,195
	Operating expenses (a) (b) (c)	(140,479		)	(171,605		)
	Interest expense	(47,949		)	(39,075		)
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,417			114,569
	Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,417			114,569
	Provision for income taxes	(1,980		)	(2,253		)
	Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185			81
	Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185			81
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,466		)	(1,578		)
	Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	—			(135		)
		—			(135		)
	Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	—			(262		)
		—			(262		)
	Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$	36,116		$	108,937
		$	36,116		$	108,937

	(a)	Includes expenses incurred of $29.5 million related to the CPA®:16 Merger for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

	(b)	Included in revenues and operating expenses are reimbursable costs from affiliates totaling $9.6 million and $39.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

	(c)	Includes Stock-based compensation expense of $7.0 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, of which $4.6 million and $4.2 million, respectively, were included in the Investment Management segment, respectively.
Reconciliation Of Assets From Segment To Consolidated

		Total Long-Lived Assets at (d)						Total Assets at
		March 31, 2015			December 31, 2014			March 31, 2015		December 31, 2014
	Real Estate Ownership	$	5,948,116		$	5,880,958		$	8,531,847	$	8,459,406
	Real Estate Ownership	$	5,948,116		$	5,880,958		$	8,531,847	$	8,459,406
	Investment Management	24,993			25,000			198,683		189,073
	Investment Management	24,993			25,000			198,683		189,073
	Total Company	$	5,973,109		$	5,905,958		$	8,730,530	$	8,648,479
	Total Company	$	5,973,109		$	5,905,958		$	8,730,530	$	8,648,479

	(d)	Consists of Net investments in real estate and Equity investments in the Managed Programs and real estate.

Business_and_Organization_Narr

Business and Organization (Narratives) (Details)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014
	property
	tenant
	sqft
Real Estate Properties
Common stock, shares authorized	450,000,000	450,000,000
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties	852
Number of tenants	219
Occupancy rate	98.40%
Square footage of real estate properties	89,200,000
Managed REITs
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties	409
Number of tenants	183
Occupancy rate	99.90%
Square footage of real estate properties	45,000,000
Managed REITs \| Operating real estate
Additional disclosures
Number of real estate properties	126
Square footage of real estate properties	13,900,000
CCIF
Real Estate Properties
Common stock, shares authorized			50,000,000
BDC
Real Estate Properties
Common stock, shares authorized			21,000,000

Basis_of_Presentation_Narrativ

Basis of Presentation (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Jan. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
	entity	Jan. 31, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Basis of Consolidation
Variable interest entities, count	18
CWI 2
Basis of Consolidation
Common stock maximum offering, value		$1,400,000,000	$1,000,000,000
Stock authorized during period, share value dividend reinvestment plan		$600,000,000	$400,000,000

Merger_with_CPA16_Global_Narra

Merger with CPAÂ®:16 â€“ Global (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	21 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
	property	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	investment	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Merger Disclosure
Per share closing price				$59.08
Cash consideration	$0	$1,338,000
Number of real estate properties	852
Lease revenues	160,165,000	123,068,000
Income from operations	37,397,000	110,831,000
Merger and acquisition expense	5,676,000	29,614,000
Gain on change in control of interests	0	105,947,000
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility - Revolver	186,131,000							807,518,000
Non-recourse debt	2,420,620,000							2,532,683,000
Purchase on remaining interest		281,577,000
Assets held-for-sale
Merger Disclosure
Number of real estate properties	4
Additional Paid-in Capital
Merger Disclosure
Purchase on remaining interest		42,015,000
CPA: 16 - Global
Merger Disclosure
Share per share exchange rate				0.183
Per share exchange rate				$11.25
Merger consideration				1,800,000,000
Cash consideration				1,300,000
Shares issued as compensation, shares				30,729,878
Fair value of W.P.Carey shares of common stock issued				1,800,000,000
Shares of acquired entity received				168,041,772
Lease revenues		45,800,000
Income from operations		12,500,000
Income attributable to noncontrolling interest		200,000
Merger and acquisition expense		29,500,000			30,500,000	10,600,000
Carrying value of equity investment in CPA pre merger				274,100,000
Number of shares owned				38,229,294
Senior Unsecured Credit Facility - Revolver				170,000,000
Non-recourse debt				1,800,000,000
Number of unconsolidated investments				18
Fair value of noncontrolling interests acquired				278,200,000
Fair value of W. P. Carey & Co. LLC equity interest in jointly-owned investments with CPA:16 prior to the CPA:16 Merger			347,200,000
CPA: 16 - Global \| Previously held equity interest
Merger Disclosure
Gain on change in control of interests		73,100,000
Number of jointly owned investments with affiliate				12
Carrying value of noncontrolling interest acquired from entity				236,800,000
CPA: 16 - Global \| Jointly Owned Investments
Merger Disclosure
Gain on change in control of interests		30,200,000
Carrying value of equity investment in CPA pre merger				142,500,000
Number of jointly owned investments with affiliate				9
Fair value of W. P. Carey & Co. LLC equity interest in jointly-owned investments with CPA:16 prior to the CPA:16 Merger			172,700,000
CPA: 16 - Global \| Consolidated or partially leased investments
Merger Disclosure
Number of real estate properties				325
Weighted average lease term				10 years 4 months 24 days
Triple-net lease, current minimum base rent receivable				300,100,000
Mortgage loans on real estate, interest rate				5.60%
CPA: 16 - Global \| Consolidated or partially leased investments \| Fixed interest rate
Merger Disclosure
Loans outstanding, count				92
CPA: 16 - Global \| Consolidated or partially leased investments \| Variable interest rate
Merger Disclosure
Loans outstanding, count				18
CPA: 16 - Global \| Equity method investments
Merger Disclosure
Number of real estate properties				140
Number of investments consolidated after merger				5
Weighted average lease term				8 years 7 months 6 days
Triple-net lease, current minimum base rent receivable				63,900,000
Mortgage loans on real estate, interest rate				4.80%
Non-recourse debt				300,000,000
Number of consolidated investments				11
Number of jointly owned investments with affiliate				2
CPA: 16 - Global \| Equity method investments \| Fixed interest rate
Merger Disclosure
Loans outstanding, count				17
CPA: 16 - Global \| Equity method investments \| Variable interest rate
Merger Disclosure
Loans outstanding, count				5
CPA: 16 - Global \| Additional Paid-in Capital
Merger Disclosure
Purchase on remaining interest		42,000,000
Hotel
Merger Disclosure
Number of real estate properties	2
Hotel \| CPA: 16 - Global \| Consolidated or partially leased investments
Merger Disclosure
Number of real estate properties				2
Measurement period adjustment \| CPA: 16 - Global
Merger Disclosure
Purchase on remaining interest				600,000
Fair value of noncontrolling interests acquired								-600,000
Fair value of W. P. Carey & Co. LLC equity interest in jointly-owned investments with CPA:16 prior to the CPA:16 Merger							$2,600,000
Discontinued Operations \| Assets held-for-sale \| CPA: 16 - Global
Merger Disclosure
Number of real estate properties								10
Discontinued Operations \| Assets held-for-sale \| CPA: 16 - Global \| Jointly Owned Investments
Merger Disclosure
Number of real estate properties								5

Merger_with_CPA16_Global_Detai

Merger with CPAÂ®:16 â€“ Global (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Pro Forma Financial Information
Pro forma total revenue	$234,125
Pro forma net income from continuing operations, net of tax	37,940
Pro forma net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-572
Pro forma net loss (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	-262
Pro forma net income from continuing operations, net of tax attributable to W. P. Carey (a)	$37,106
Pro forma earnings per share
Basic (in dollar per share)	$0.37
Diluted (in dollar per share)	$0.37
Pro forma weighted average shares
Basic (in shares)	99,724,441
Diluted (in shares)	100,615,300

Agreements_and_Transactions_wi2

Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
	Feb. 28, 2014	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Jun. 25, 2014	1-May-15	Apr. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Structuring revenue
Installment period for deferred acquisition fee receivable		three years
Reimbursed costs from affiliates and wholesaling revenue
Maximum personnel and overhead reimbursement, percentage		2.40%
Legal fee reimbursement rate		0.25%
Distributions Of Available Cash and Deferred Revenue Earned
Percentage of available cash distribution to advisor		10.00%
Share Purchase Agreement
Stock repurchased during period, shares	11,037
Repurchase of common stock	$700,000	$0	$678,000
Long-term net lease
Structuring revenue
Percentage of acquisition fees earned		4.50%
Long-term net lease \| Current
Structuring revenue
Percentage of acquisition fees earned		2.50%
Long-term net lease \| Deferred
Structuring revenue
Percentage of acquisition fees earned		2.00%
Maximum
Structuring revenue
Unpaid transaction fee interest rate		5.00%
Other Transactions with Affiliates
Ownership interest in joint ventures		90.00%
Minimum
Structuring revenue
Unpaid transaction fee interest rate		2.00%
Other Transactions with Affiliates
Ownership interest in joint ventures		3.00%
CPA: 16 - Global \| Average invested assets
Revenue from related parties
Percentage of asset management fees earned		0.50%
CPA: 17 - Global
Revenue from related parties
Asset management fees receivable in cash		50.00%
Asset management fees receivable in shares		50.00%
Other Transactions with Affiliates
Line of credit, maximum borrowing amount		75,000,000					100,000,000
CPA: 17 - Global \| Maximum
Revenue from related parties
Percentage of asset management fees earned		1.75%
CPA: 17 - Global \| Maximum \| Average equity value
Structuring revenue
Percentage of acquisition fees earned		1.75%
CPA: 17 - Global \| Minimum
Revenue from related parties
Percentage of asset management fees earned		0.50%
CPA: 17 - Global \| Minimum \| Average equity value
Structuring revenue
Percentage of acquisition fees earned		0.00%
CPA:18 - Global
Reimbursed costs from affiliates and wholesaling revenue
Organization and offering costs incurred		8,500,000
Reimbursed offering costs		8,300,000
Aggregate gross proceeds threshold		1.50%
Other Transactions with Affiliates
Line of credit, maximum borrowing amount		100,000,000					100,000,000
CPA:18 - Global \| Class A
Reimbursed costs from affiliates and wholesaling revenue
Selling commission per share sold		$0.70
Dealer manager fee per share sold		$0.30
CPA:18 - Global \| Class C
Reimbursed costs from affiliates and wholesaling revenue
Selling commission per share sold		$0.14
Dealer manager fee per share sold		$0.21
Shareholder servicing, percentage		1.00%
Underwriting compensation limit, percentage		10.00%
CPA:18 - Global \| Maximum
Revenue from related parties
Percentage of asset management fees earned		1.50%
CPA:18 - Global \| Minimum
Revenue from related parties
Percentage of asset management fees earned		0.50%
CWI
Structuring revenue
Loan refinancing fee		1.00%
Reimbursed costs from affiliates and wholesaling revenue
Selling commission per share sold		$0.70
Dealer manager fee per share sold		$0.30
Maximum percent of offering proceeds		2.00%
Maximum percentage of follow-on offering proceeds		4.00%
Organization and offering costs incurred		13,200,000
Reimbursed offering costs		12,900,000
Other Transactions with Affiliates
Line of credit, maximum borrowing amount		110,000,000					75,000,000
Loans receivable, related party				11,000,000
Interest rate on loan				1.10%
Receivable maturity date				30-Jun-15
CWI \| Contract sales price of investment
Structuring revenue
Percentage of acquisition fees earned		2.50%
CWI \| Lodging-related investments
Revenue from related parties
Percentage of asset management fees earned		0.50%
CWI \| Maximum \| Contract sales price of investment
Structuring revenue
Percentage of acquisition fees earned		6.00%
CWI 2
Other Transactions with Affiliates
Line of credit, maximum borrowing amount		110,000,000					110,000,000
CWI 2 \| Subsequent Event
Other Transactions with Affiliates
Loans receivable, related party					$65,300,000	$37,200,000
Interest rate on loan					1.10%	1.10%
Receivable maturity date					31-Dec-15	31-Mar-16
Effective 2016
Reimbursed costs from affiliates and wholesaling revenue
Maximum personnel and overhead reimbursement, percentage		2.20%
Effective 2017
Reimbursed costs from affiliates and wholesaling revenue
Maximum personnel and overhead reimbursement, percentage		2.00%

Agreements_and_Transactions_wi3

Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Revenue from related parties:
Structuring revenue	$21,720	$17,750
Asset management revenue	11,112	9,754
Reimbursable costs from affiliates	9,607	39,732
Distributions of Available Cash	8,806	10,445
Dealer manager fees	1,274	6,676
Incentive, termination and subordinated disposition revenue	203	0
Interest income on deferred acquisition fees and loans to affiliates	153	175
Deferred revenue earned	0	786
Total deferred revenue earned	$52,875	$85,318

Agreements_and_Transactions_wi4

Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Related Party Transaction
Revenue from related parties	$52,875	$85,318
CPA: 16 - Global
Related Party Transaction
Revenue from related parties	0	7,998
CPA: 17 - Global
Related Party Transaction
Revenue from related parties	21,676	15,828
CPA:18 - Global
Related Party Transaction
Revenue from related parties	18,940	56,176
CWI
Related Party Transaction
Revenue from related parties	$12,259	$5,316

Agreements_and_Transactions_wi5

Agreements and Transactions with Related Parties (Details 3) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Due from affiliates
Deferred acquisition fees receivable	$25,170	$26,913
Asset management fee receivable	5,991	0
Current acquisition fees receivable	6,839	2,463
Reimbursable costs	5,797	301
Accounts receivable	4,982	2,680
Organization and offering costs	2,421	2,120
Due from affiliates	$51,200	$34,477

Net_Investments_in_Properties_1

Net Investments in Properties (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 28, 2015	Feb. 11, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
	property	Mar. 31, 2014	Jan. 28, 2015	Feb. 11, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real Estate Properties
Decrease in exchange rate	11.50%
Foreign currency exchange rate	1.0759				1.2156
Decrease in value of balance sheet item due to foreign currency translation	$131,349,000	($4,545,000)
Investments in real estate
Number of real estate properties	852
Real estate
Real Estate Properties
Decrease in value of balance sheet item due to foreign currency translation	190,300,000
Business combination
Investments in real estate
Investment purchase price	388,300,000
Land acquired	66,400,000
Buildings acquired	264,300,000
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, business combination	57,600,000
Acquisition costs, expensed	5,900,000
Business combination \| Various auto dealerships in the United Kingdom
Investments in real estate
Investment purchase price			345,900,000
Number of real estate properties			73
Business combination \| Logistic facilty in Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Investments in real estate
Investment purchase price				$42,400,000
Hotel
Investments in real estate
Number of real estate properties	2
Self-storage
Investments in real estate
Number of real estate properties	2
Assets held-for-sale
Investments in real estate
Number of real estate properties	4

Net_Investments_in_Properties_2

Net Investments in Properties (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real Estate Investment Property At Cost
Less: Accumulated depreciation	($286,953)	($258,493)
Net investments in properties	4,957,101	4,833,074
Real estate
Real Estate Investment Property At Cost
Land	1,155,190	1,146,704
Buildings	3,965,923	3,829,981
Real estate under construction	38,026	29,997
Less: Accumulated depreciation	-281,041	-253,627
Net investments in properties	4,878,098	4,753,055
Operating real estate
Real Estate Investment Property At Cost
Land	7,074	7,074
Buildings	77,841	77,811
Less: Accumulated depreciation	-5,912	-4,866
Net investments in properties	$79,003	$80,019

Recovered_Sheet1

Net investments in Properties (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale
Assets held for sale	$0	$7,255
Real Estate
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale
Assets held for sale	0	5,969
Above-market rent intangible assets, net
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale
Assets held for sale	0	838
In-place lease intangible assets, net
Long Lived Assets Held-for-sale
Assets held for sale	$0	$448

Finance_Receivables_Narratives

Finance Receivables (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended
Finance Receivables (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Decrease in exchange rate	11.50%
Foreign currency exchange rate	1.0759			1.2156
Decrease in value of balance sheet item due to foreign currency translation	$131,349,000	($4,545,000)
Finance Receivables
Interest income from direct financing lease	18,800,000	17,200,000
Accounts receivable billed under direct financing lease	1,400,000			1,400,000
Notes receivable, net	10,800,000
Proceeds from notes receivable	9,970,000	0
Installment period for deferred acquisition fee receivable	three years
Financing receivable credit quality additional information	We generally seek investments in facilities that we believe are critical to a tenantâ€™s business and that we believe have a low risk of tenant default. At both March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, none of the balances of our finance receivables were past due and we had not established any allowances for credit losses.
Financing receivable credit quality range of dates ratings updated	The credit quality evaluation of our finance receivables was last updated in the first quarter of 2015.
B Note
Finance Receivables
Proceeds from notes receivable			10,000,000
Direct financing lease
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Decrease in value of balance sheet item due to foreign currency translation	47,400,000
Finance Receivables
Reclassification to real estate owned	$6,200,000

Finance_Receivables_Details_1

Finance Receivables (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net Investments in Direct Financing Leases
Minimum lease payments receivable	$847,087	$904,788
Unguaranteed residual value	769,425	818,334
Gross minimum lease payments receivable	1,616,512	1,723,122
Less: unearned income	-849,592	-906,896
Net investments in direct financing leases	$766,920	$816,226

Finance_Receivables_Details_2

Finance Receivables (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	tenant	Dec. 31, 2014
Credit Quality Of Finance Receivables
Number of tenants	219
Net investments in direct financing leases	$777,738	$837,074
Internally Assigned Grade 1
Credit Quality Of Finance Receivables
Number of tenants	3	3
Net investments in direct financing leases	134,071	79,343
Internally Assigned Grade 2
Credit Quality Of Finance Receivables
Number of tenants	3	4
Net investments in direct financing leases	27,217	37,318
Internally Assigned Grade 3
Credit Quality Of Finance Receivables
Number of tenants	22	22
Net investments in direct financing leases	497,960	592,631
Internally Assigned Grade 4
Credit Quality Of Finance Receivables
Number of tenants	7	7
Net investments in direct financing leases	118,490	127,782
Internally Assigned Grade 5
Credit Quality Of Finance Receivables
Number of tenants	0	0
Net investments in direct financing leases	$0	$0

Equity_Investment_in_Real_Esta2

Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments in REITs
Gain or loss on sale of investment properties	$1,185,000	$3,176,000
Other Transactions
Income from equity method investments	11,723,000	14,262,000
Real Estate Investments
Investments in REITs
Aggregate unamortized basis difference on equity investments	5,800,000
Other Transactions
Distributions received from equity investment	3,100,000	2,300,000
CPA: 17 - Global
Investments in REITs
Asset management fees receivable, shares	125,774
Other Transactions
Distributions received from equity investment	1,400,000	1,000,000
CPA:17 - Global operating partnership
Other Transactions
Distributions received from equity investment	6,100,000	4,700,000
CPA:18 - Global \| Class A
Investments in REITs
Asset management fees receivable, shares	48,799
CPA:18 - Global operating partnership
Other Transactions
Distributions received from equity investment	900,000	100,000
CWI operating partnership
Other Transactions
Distributions received from equity investment	1,800,000	900,000
Managed Programs
Investments in REITs
Aggregate unamortized basis difference on equity investments	21,400,000		20,200,000
Other-than-temporary impairment charges			600,000
Gain or loss on sale of investment properties	2,200,000
Other Transactions
Income from equity method investments			-100,000
C1000 Logestiek Vastgoed B.V. \| CPA: 17 - Global \| Real Estate Investments
Investments in REITs
Mortgage debt tenants in common	72,800,000
Pro rata share mortgage debt on tenancy in common	10,900,000
Beach House JV, LLC
Other Transactions
Income from equity method investments	$300,000

Equity_Investment_in_Real_Esta3

Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments
Income from equity method investments	$11,723	$14,262
Distributions of Available Cash (Note 4)	-331	1,222
Managed Programs
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments
Income from equity method investments	307	782
Amortization of basis differences on equity investments	-295	-390
Other-than-temporary impairment charges on the Special Member Interest in CPAÂ®:16 â€“ Globalâ€™s operating partnership	0	-735
Distributions of Available Cash (Note 4)	8,806	10,445
Deferred revenue earned (Note 4)	0	786
Total equity earnings from the Managed Programs	8,818	10,888
Jointly Owned Investments
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments
Income from equity method investments	3,816	3,956
Amortization of basis differences on equity investments	($911)	($582)

Equity_Investment_in_Real_Esta4

Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments in REITs
Equity investments in real estate	$249,088	$249,403
CPA: 17 - Global
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	2.80%	2.68%
Equity investments in real estate	81,589	79,429
CPA:17 - Global operating partnership
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.01%	0.01%
Equity investments in real estate	0	0
CPA:18 - Global
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.30%	0.22%
Equity investments in real estate	4,061	2,784
CPA:18 - Global operating partnership
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.03%	0.03%
Equity investments in real estate	223	209
CWI
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	1.16%	1.09%
Equity investments in real estate	13,326	13,940
CWI operating partnership
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	0.02%	0.02%
Equity investments in real estate	0	0
Carey Credit Income Fund
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	50.00%	50.00%
Equity investments in real estate	24,993	25,000
Managed Programs
Investments in REITs
Equity investments in real estate	$124,192	$121,362

Equity_Investment_in_Real_Esta5

Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs (Details 3) (Managed REITs, USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Managed REITs
Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information
Real estate, net	$5,739,527	$5,969,011
Other assets	2,644,280	2,293,065
Total assets	8,383,807	8,262,076
Debt	-3,527,119	-3,387,795
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	-532,209	-496,857
Total liabilities	-4,059,328	-3,884,652
Noncontrolling interests	-160,586	-170,249
Stockholdersâ€™ equity	$4,163,893	$4,207,175

Equity_Investment_in_Real_Esta6

Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs (Details 4) (Managed REITs, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Managed REITs
Equity Method Investment Summarized Financial Information Income Statement
Revenues	$235,710	$193,830
Expenses	-233,363	-189,055
Income from continuing operations	2,347	4,775
Net income attributable to the Managed REITs	($9,082)	($3,015)

Equity_Investment_in_Real_Esta7

Equity Investment in Real Estate and the Managed REITs (Details 5) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Investments in REITs
Equity investments in real estate	$249,088	$249,403
CPA: 17 - Global
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	2.80%	2.68%
Equity investments in real estate	81,589	79,429
Real Estate Investments
Investments in REITs
Equity investments in real estate	124,896	128,041
Real Estate Investments \| Third Party \| Beach House JV, LLC
Investments in REITs
Equity investments in real estate	15,105	15,105
Real Estate Investments \| CPA: 17 - Global \| C1000 Logestiek Vastgoed B.V.
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	15.00%
Equity investments in real estate	9,429	11,192
Real Estate Investments \| CPA: 17 - Global \| Waldaschaff Automotive GmbH and Wagon Automotive Nagold GmbH
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	33.00%
Equity investments in real estate	6,192	6,949
Real Estate Investments \| CPA: 17 - Global \| Wanbishi Archives Co. Ltd.
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	3.00%
Equity investments in real estate	344	341
Real Estate Investments \| CPA: 17 - Global \| The New York Times Company
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	45.00%
Equity investments in real estate	72,208	72,476
Real Estate Investments \| CPA: 17 - Global \| Frontier Spinning Mills, Inc.
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	40.00%
Equity investments in real estate	15,639	15,609
Real Estate Investments \| CPA: 17 - Global \| Actebis Peacock GmbH
Investments in REITs
Equity method investment, ownership percentage	30.00%
Equity investments in real estate	$5,979	$6,369

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangibles2

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net
Amortization of intangible assets	$44	$39.80
Maximum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net
Finite lived intangible assets useful life	40 years
Maximum \| Below-market ground lease
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net
Finite lived intangible assets useful life	250 years
Minimum
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Net
Finite lived intangible assets useful life	1 year

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangibles3

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Liabilities
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, acquisition	$64,136
Acquired finite-lived intangible liability, acquisition	-6,492
Below-market rent
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Liabilities
Acquired finite lived intangible liabilities weighted average useful life	14 years 7 months 6 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible liability, acquisition	-6,492
In-place lease
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Liabilities
Acquired intangible assets weighted-average life	13 years 10 months 24 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, acquisition	39,855
Above-market rent
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Liabilities
Acquired intangible assets weighted-average life	15 years 3 months 18 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, acquisition	17,318
Below-market ground lease
Acquired Finite Lived Intangible Assets Liabilities
Acquired intangible assets weighted-average life	223 years 4 months 24 days
Acquired finite-lived intangible asset, acquisition	$6,963

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangibles4

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Goodwill
Balance - beginning of period	$692,415
Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held-for-sale	-303
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	-9,489
Balance - end of period	682,623
Real Estate Ownership
Goodwill
Balance - beginning of period	628,808
Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held-for-sale	-303
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	-9,489
Balance - end of period	619,016
Investment Management
Goodwill
Balance - beginning of period	63,607
Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held-for-sale	0
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other	0
Balance - end of period	$63,607

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangibles5

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Details 3) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Less: accumulated amortization	($377,637)	($341,672)
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Including Goodwill
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	686,598	696,390
Total intangible assets, gross	2,568,119	2,589,572
Total intangible assets, net	2,190,482	2,247,900
Amortizable Intangible Liabilities
Finite-lived intangible liabilities, gross	-184,561	-182,542
Less: accumulated amortization	27,146	24,183
Net amortizable intangible liabilities	-157,415	-158,359
Indefinite Lived Intangible Liabilities
Total intangible liabilities, gross	-201,272	-199,253
Total intangible liabilities, net	-174,126	-175,070
Below-market purchase options
Indefinite Lived Intangible Liabilities
Indefinite-lived intangible liabilities	-16,711	-16,711
Below-market rent
Amortizable Intangible Liabilities
Finite-lived intangible liabilities, gross	-171,535	-169,231
Less: accumulated amortization	25,855	23,039
Net amortizable intangible liabilities	-145,680	-146,192
Above-market ground lease
Amortizable Intangible Liabilities
Finite-lived intangible liabilities, gross	-13,026	-13,311
Less: accumulated amortization	1,291	1,144
Net amortizable intangible liabilities	-11,735	-12,167
Goodwill
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Including Goodwill
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	682,623	692,415
Trade name
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets Including Goodwill
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	3,975	3,975
Contracts including internal software development costs
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	50,809	50,349
Less: accumulated amortization	-33,382	-32,791
Amortizable intangible assets	17,427	17,558
Management contracts
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	32,765	32,765
Less: accumulated amortization	-32,765	-32,765
Amortizable intangible assets	0	0
Internal-use software development costs
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	18,044	17,584
Less: accumulated amortization	-617	-26
Amortizable intangible assets	17,427	17,558
Lease intangibles
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	1,830,712	1,842,833
Less: accumulated amortization	-344,255	-308,881
Amortizable intangible assets	1,486,457	1,533,952
In-place lease and tenant relationship
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	1,166,486	1,185,692
Less: accumulated amortization	-213,028	-191,873
Amortizable intangible assets	953,458	993,819
Above-market rent
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	641,401	639,370
Less: accumulated amortization	-130,715	-116,573
Amortizable intangible assets	510,686	522,797
Below-market ground lease
Amortizable Intangible Assets
Finite lived intangible assets, gross	22,825	17,771
Less: accumulated amortization	-512	-435
Amortizable intangible assets	$22,313	$17,336

Goodwill_and_Other_Intangibles6

Goodwill and Other Intangibles (Details 4) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Net
2015 (remainder)	$124,156
2016	161,993
2017	155,382
2018	142,589
2019	133,768
Thereafter	628,581
Total	1,346,469
Net Decrease in Lease Revenues
Net
2015 (remainder)	39,969
2016	51,797
2017	49,014
2018	45,788
2019	41,985
Thereafter	136,453
Total	365,006
Increase to Amortization/ Property Expenses
Net
2015 (remainder)	84,187
2016	110,196
2017	106,368
2018	96,801
2019	91,783
Thereafter	492,128
Total	$981,463

Fair_Value_Measurements_Narrat

Fair Value Measurements (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CPA: 16 - Global \| Maximum
Fair value inputs
Discount rate	15.75%
Gen and admin to assets ratio	0.45%
CPA: 16 - Global \| Minimum
Fair value inputs
Discount rate	12.75%
Gen and admin to assets ratio	0.35%
Redeemable noncontrolling interest \| Maximum
Fair value inputs
Lack of marketability	20.00%
Discount rate	16.00%
Revenue multiple	8.8
EBITDA multiple	18.8
Termination multiple	7.5
Redeemable noncontrolling interest \| Minimum
Fair value inputs
Lack of marketability	10.00%
Discount rate	14.00%
Revenue multiple	1.1
EBITDA multiple	3.2
Termination multiple	5.5
Deferred acquisition fees receivable \| Maximum
Fair value inputs
Leverage adjusted unsecured spread	3.55%
Illiquidity Adjustment	1.00%
Deferred acquisition fees receivable \| Minimum
Fair value inputs
Leverage adjusted unsecured spread	1.07%
Illiquidity Adjustment	0.50%
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring \| Level 3
Fair value inputs
Impairment charges on properties	$2,683	$735
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring \| Level 3 \| Real Estate
Fair value inputs
Impairment charges on properties	2,683	0
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring \| Level 3 \| Equity method investments
Fair value inputs
Impairment charges on properties	$0	$735

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Level 3 \| Carrying Value
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	$2,420,620	$2,532,683
Level 3 \| Fair Value
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	2,469,545	2,574,437
Level 3 \| Notes Receivable \| Carrying Value
Assets:
Receivable, fair value	10,816	20,848
Level 3 \| Notes Receivable \| Fair Value
Assets:
Receivable, fair value	9,764	19,604
Level 3 \| Deferred acquisition fees receivable \| Carrying Value
Assets:
Receivable, fair value	25,170	26,913
Level 3 \| Deferred acquisition fees receivable \| Fair Value
Assets:
Receivable, fair value	25,835	28,027
Level 2 \| Senior Unsecured Notes \| Carrying Value
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	1,479,473	498,345
Level 2 \| Senior Unsecured Notes \| Fair Value
Liabilities:
Non-recourse debt	1,506,779	527,029
Level 2 \| Senior Unsecured Credit Facility \| Carrying Value
Liabilities:
Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure	436,131	1,057,518
Level 2 \| Senior Unsecured Credit Facility \| Fair Value
Liabilities:
Lines of Credit, Fair Value Disclosure	$436,132	$1,057,519

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail1

Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) (Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring, Level 3, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Impairment Disclosure
Impairment charges on properties	$2,683	$735
Real Estate
Impairment Disclosure
Total fair value measurements	5,294	0
Impairment charges on properties	2,683	0
Equity investments in real estate
Impairment Disclosure
Total fair value measurements	0	0
Impairment charges on properties	$0	$735

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der2

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments (Narratives) (Details)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

USD ($)

Individual Counterparty

Interest expense

Other Income

Cash Flow Hedging

Equity method investments

Euro

Revolving Credit Facility

USD ($)

Interest rate caps

Cash Flow Hedging

Euro

USD ($)

Interest rate caps

USD ($)

EUR (€)

Footnote Details

Derivatives in liability position

$11,893,000

$13,156,000

Stock warrants, fair value

51,247,000

20,348,000

Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net

1,245,000

-1,085,000

-400,000

-100,000

Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Effective Portion, Net

30,174,000

-2,867,000

-1,000

-17,000

Derivative instrument, interest rate

1.00%

Derivative, Cap Interest Rate

3.00%

Summary of Derivative Instruments

Estimated amount reclassified from OCI to income, derivatives

2,200,000

-9,100,000

Total credit exposure on derivatives

42,700,000

24,900,000

Derivatives, net liability position

13,000,000

14,200,000

Aggregate termination value for immediate settlement

13,300,000

14,500,000

Senior Unsecured Credit Facility - Revolver

$186,131,000

$807,518,000

$186,100,000

€ 173,000,000

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der3

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Derivatives, Fair Value
Asset Derivatives Fair Value at	$51,247	$20,348
Liability Derivatives Fair Value at	-11,893	-13,156
Interest rate caps \| Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other assets
Derivatives, Fair Value
Asset Derivatives Fair Value at	0	3
Stock warrants \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other assets
Derivatives, Fair Value
Asset Derivatives Fair Value at	3,417	3,753
Foreign currency contracts \| Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other assets
Derivatives, Fair Value
Asset Derivatives Fair Value at	41,777	16,307
Foreign currency collars \| Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other assets
Derivatives, Fair Value
Asset Derivatives Fair Value at	6,050	0
Interest rate swap \| Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other assets
Derivatives, Fair Value
Asset Derivatives Fair Value at	0	285
Interest rate swap \| Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value
Liability Derivatives Fair Value at	-6,214	-5,660
Interest rate swap \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Other assets
Derivatives, Fair Value
Asset Derivatives Fair Value at	3	0
Interest rate swap \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
Derivatives, Fair Value
Liability Derivatives Fair Value at	($5,679)	($7,496)

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der4

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	$30,174	($2,867)
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships \| Interest rate swap
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	-1,182	-186
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships \| Interest rate caps
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	-1	-17
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships \| Foreign currency contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	21,590	-2,664
Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships \| Foreign currency collars
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	6,110	0
Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships \| Foreign currency contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Activity
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income on Derivatives (Effective Portion)	$3,657	$0

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der5

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 3) (Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships, USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$1,245	($1,085)
Interest rate swaps and caps \| Interest expense
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	-608	-701
Foreign currency contracts \| Other income and (expenses)
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net [Abstract]
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Reclassified from Accumulated OCI into Income, Effective Portion, Net	$1,853	($384)

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der6

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	$1,165	$478
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest rate swap \| Interest expense
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	973	478
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Foreign currency collars \| Interest expense
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	362	0
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Stock warrants \| Other income and (expenses)
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	-335	0
Cash Flow Hedging \| Interest rate swap \| Interest expense
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	148	0
Cash Flow Hedging \| Foreign currency collars \| Other income and (expenses)
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	12	0
Cash Flow Hedging \| Foreign currency contracts \| Other income and (expenses)
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives
Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivatives	$5	$0

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der7

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 5) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Disclosure
Fair value	($11,890)
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest rate swap \| USD
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	1
Notional Amount	3,224
Fair value	3
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument \| Interest rate swap \| Euro
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	3
Notional Amount	106,753
Fair value	-5,679
Cash Flow Hedging \| Interest rate swap \| USD
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	13
Notional Amount	125,090
Fair value	-5,439
Cash Flow Hedging \| Interest rate swap \| Euro
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	1
Notional Amount	6,085
Fair value	-775
Cash Flow Hedging \| Interest rate caps \| Euro
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	1
Notional Amount	44,792
Fair value	$0

Risk_Management_and_Use_of_Der8

Risk Management and Use of Derivative Financial Instruments (Details 6) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Derivative Disclosure
Fair value, foreign currency derivatives	$47,827
Cash Flow Hedging \| Forward contracts \| Euro
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	64
Notional Amount	149,058
Fair value, foreign currency derivatives	32,771
Cash Flow Hedging \| Forward contracts \| GBP
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	15
Notional Amount	8,020
Fair value, foreign currency derivatives	646
Cash Flow Hedging \| Forward contracts \| AUD
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	19
Notional Amount	23,902
Fair value, foreign currency derivatives	2,138
Cash Flow Hedging \| Foreign currency collars \| Euro
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	19
Notional Amount	83,125
Fair value, foreign currency derivatives	5,416
Cash Flow Hedging \| Foreign currency collars \| GBP
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	7
Notional Amount	12,250
Fair value, foreign currency derivatives	634
Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging Relationships \| Forward contracts \| AUD
Derivative Disclosure
Derivative number of instruments	5
Notional Amount	84,522
Fair value, foreign currency derivatives	$6,222

Debt_Narratives_Details

Debt (Narratives) (Details)

3 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2015

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Jan. 15, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Dec. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2015

Jan. 15, 2015

USD ($)

Fixed interest rate

Variable interest rate

Revolving Credit Facility

Term Loan Facility

Senior Unsecured Credit Facility

Senior Unsecured Notes

Non-Recourse Debt

Merged Entities

Accordion

USD ($)

Euro

Standard & Poor's, BBB Rating

Moody's, Baa2 Rating

USD ($)

Revolving Credit Facility

USD ($)

EUR (€)

USD ($)

Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]

Debt instrument, covenant compliance

We were in compliance with all of these covenants at March 31, 2015.

Credit facility, maturity date

31-Jan-18

31-Jan-16

Debt financing cost

$7,800,000

$4,200,000

Revolving Line Of Credit

Line of credit, maximum borrowing amount

436,100,000

1,500,000,000

1,000,000,000

250,000,000

2,250,000,000

Senior Unsecured Credit Facility - Revolver

186,131,000

807,518,000

186,100,000

173,000,000

250,000,000

500,000,000

Letters of Credit Outstanding, Amount

1,100,000

Line of credit, amount available in foreign currency

750,000,000

500,000,000

Amount available for swing line loan

50,000,000

Amount available for letters of credit

50,000,000

Debt Instrument borrowing capacity fee (percentage)

0.20%

Line of credit facility, available

1,300,000,000

Debt instrument, basis spread on variable rate

1.10%

1.25%

0.30%

Credit facility potential increase

500,000,000

Senior Unsecured Notes

Principal Amount

1,500,000,000

Unamortized discount (premium)

2,004,000

8,500,000

-6,500,000

Debt instrument, term

10 years

3 months

Debt instrument, credit rating

BBB

Baa2

Non Recourse Debt

Collateral mortgage loan, carrying value

3,200,000,000

3,300,000,000

Mortgage loan on real estate, minimum interest rate

2.60%

1.00%

Mortgage loan on real estate, maximum interest rate

11.50%

7.60%

Debt instrument maturity date, range start

31-May-15

Debt instrument maturity date, range end

31-May-38

Decrease in exchange rate

11.50%

Decrease in value of balance sheet item due to foreign currency translation

$131,349,000

($4,545,000)

$177,200,000

Foreign currency exchange rate

1.0759

1.2156

Debt_Debt_Details_1

Debt Debt (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
4.6% Senior Notes
Senior Unsecured Notes
Issue Date	14-Mar-14
Principal Amount	$500
Price of Par Value	99.64%
Discount	1.8
Effective Interest Rate	4.65%
Coupon Rate	4.60%
Maturity Date	1-Apr-24
2.0% Senior Euro Notes (a)
Senior Unsecured Notes
Issue Date	21-Jan-15
Principal Amount	500
Price of Par Value	99.22%
Discount	4.6
Effective Interest Rate	2.11%
Coupon Rate	2.00%
Maturity Date	20-Jan-23
4.0% Senior Notes (a)
Senior Unsecured Notes
Issue Date	26-Jan-15
Principal Amount	450
Price of Par Value	99.37%
Discount	$2.80
Effective Interest Rate	4.08%
Coupon Rate	4.00%
Maturity Date	1-Feb-25

Debt_Details_2

Debt (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015
Long-term Debt, by Maturity
2015 (remainder)	$185,503
2016	556,735
2017	741,671
2018	450,867
2019	99,033
Thereafter through 2038 (d)	2,304,419
Long Term Debt Before Unamortized Discount	4,338,228
Unamortized premium, net	-2,004
Total scheduled debt principal payments	$4,336,224

StockBased_Compensation_and_Eq2

Stock-Based Compensation and Equity (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Risk free interest rate	1.00%
Fair value assumptions expected volatility rate	20.20%
Fair value assumptions expected volatility rate peer index	13.50%
Fair value assumptions expected dividend rate	0.00%
Deferred Compensation Arrangement with Individual, Common Stock Reserved for Future Issuance	1,439,421		848,788
Fair value of vested stock	$56,300,000
Deferred compensation obligation	56,749,000		30,624,000
Unrecognized stock based compensation expense	35,200,000
Weighted-average remaining term	2 years 1 month 13 days
Options exercised in period	47,966
Options exercised during the period, aggregate intrinsic value	1,800,000
Stock options outstanding	427,799
Stock options exercisable	373,690
Distributions Declared
Distributions declared	$0.95	$0.90
Dividend payable date	15-Apr-15
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	13,374,000		6,071,000
Officers \| WPCI
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Minority interest ownership interest				7.70%
Redeemable noncontrolling interest
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	13,374,000	7,303,000	6,071,000		7,436,000
Long Term Incentive Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award
Deferred compensation obligation	($56,700,000)

StockBased_Compensation_and_Eq3

Stock-Based Compensation and Equity (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Stock-Based Compensation and Equity (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015
Restricted Stock And RSU Awards
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Nonvested, beginning balance - shares	442,502
Granted - shares	161,991
Vested - shares	-241,752
Forfeited - shares	-1,798
Adjustments - shares	0
Nonvested, ending balance - shares	360,943
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested, beginning balance, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$53.03
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$71.43
Vested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$48.32
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$58.89
Adjustments, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$0
Nonvested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$64.42
Performance Stock Units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Number of Shares
Nonvested, beginning balance - shares	877,641
Granted - shares	65,277
Vested - shares	-792,465
Forfeited - shares	0
Adjustments - shares	218,363
Nonvested, ending balance - shares	368,816
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Nonvested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Nonvested, beginning balance, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$32.06
Granted, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$85.61
Vested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$56.27
Forfeited, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$0
Adjustments, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$55.25
Nonvested, weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share)	$48.23

StockBased_Compensation_and_Eq4

Stock-Based Compensation and Equity (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share
Net income attributable to W. P. Carey	$36,116	$115,478
Allocation of distribution equivalents paid on unvested RSUs and RSAs in excess of income	-123	-493
Net Income - basic	35,993	114,985
Income effect of dilutive securities, net of taxes	0	141
Net Income - diluted	$35,993	$115,126
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic	105,303,679	89,366,055
Effect of dilutive securities	806,198	1,009,256
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted	106,109,877	90,375,311
Anti-dilutive shares	0	118,397

StockBased_Compensation_and_Eq5

Stock-Based Compensation and Equity (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Carrying Amount
Balance - beginning of period	$6,071
Net income	0	262
Distributions	-2,354	-6,045
Change in other comprehensive income	0	6
Balance - end of period	13,374
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Carrying Amount
Balance - beginning of period	6,071	7,436
Redemption value adjustment	7,303	-306
Net income	0	262
Distributions	0	-83
Change in other comprehensive income	0	-6
Balance - end of period	$13,374	$7,303

StockBased_Compensation_and_Eq6

Stock-Based Compensation and Equity (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Transfers to Noncontrolling Interest
Net income attributable to W. P. Carey	$36,116	$115,478
Transfers to noncontrolling interest
Decrease in W. P. Careyâ€™s additional paid-in capital for purchases of less-than-wholly-owned investments in connection with the CPAÂ®:16 Merger	0	-42,015
Net transfers to noncontrolling interest	0	-42,015
Change from net income attributable to W. P. Carey and transfers to noncontrolling interest	$36,116	$73,463

StockBased_Compensation_and_Eq7

Stock-Based Compensation and Equity (Details 5) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Reconciliation Of Accumulated Comprehensive Income
Balance - beginning of period	($75,559)	$15,336
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	-103,272	561
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-1,245	1,204
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	-104,517	1,765
Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	5,143	342
Balance - end of period	-174,933	17,443
Interest expense
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	608	701
Other income and (expenses)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-1,853	384
Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		119
Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments
Reconciliation Of Accumulated Comprehensive Income
Balance - beginning of period	13,597	-7,488
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	28,063	-4,001
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-1,245	1,204
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	26,818	-2,797
Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0
Balance - end of period	40,415	-10,285
Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments \| Interest expense
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	608	701
Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments \| Other income and (expenses)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-1,853	384
Gains and Losses on Derivative Instruments \| Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		119
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
Reconciliation Of Accumulated Comprehensive Income
Balance - beginning of period	-89,177	22,793
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	-131,349	4,545
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	-131,349	4,545
Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	5,143	342
Balance - end of period	-215,383	27,680
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments \| Interest expense
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments \| Other income and (expenses)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments \| Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		0
Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities
Reconciliation Of Accumulated Comprehensive Income
Balance - beginning of period	21	31
Other comprehensive (loss) income before reclassifications	14	17
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Net current period other comprehensive (loss) income	14	17
Net current period other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests and redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0
Balance - end of period	35	48
Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities \| Interest expense
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities \| Other income and (expenses)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	0	0
Gains and Losses on Marketable Securities \| Equity in earnings of equity method investments in the Managed Programs and real estate
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to:
Amount reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		$0

Income_Taxes_Narratives_Detail

Income Taxes (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
Current income tax expense	$3.70	$13.20
Deferred tax assets	45.3	20.8
Deferred tax assets, valuation allowance	-19.1	-16.2
Deferred tax liabilities	96	89.3
Deferred tax liability expense	($1.70)	($10.90)

Property_Dispositions_and_Disc2

Property Dispositions and Discontinued Operations (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
	property	Mar. 31, 2014	Feb. 28, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	property
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Revenues	$220,388,000	$209,195,000
Net Income attributable to W. P. Carey	36,116,000	115,478,000
Assets held for sale	0			7,255,000
Gain (loss) on the sale of real estate	1,185,000	3,176,000
Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held-for-sale	303,000
Number of real estate properties	852
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185,000	81,000
Assets held-for-sale
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Number of real estate properties	4
Assets held-for-sale \| CPA: 16 - Global
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Financing cost		15,000,000
Continuing Operations
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Number of properties held for sale		2
Properties sold	7
Proceeds from the sale of properties	13,300,000
Impairment recognized on asset to be disposed	2,300,000
Contract selling price		17,400,000
Proceeds from Sale of Foreclosed Assets			4,600,000
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Foreclosures			6,000,000
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,200,000		100,000
Continuing Operations \| Assets held-for-sale
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Revenues	1,600,000	300,000
Net Income attributable to W. P. Carey	2,700,000	300,000
Discontinued Operations \| Assets held-for-sale
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Number of properties held for sale					9
Properties sold					6
Proceeds from the sale of properties				34,400,000
Gain (loss) on the sale of real estate				3,000,000
Impairment recognized on asset to be disposed				3,100,000
Payment of mortgage obligation				4,200,000
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt, net of tax				-400,000
Discontinued Operations \| Assets held-for-sale \| CPA: 16 - Global
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Assets held for sale		133,000,000
Proceeds from the sale of properties		92,800,000
Gain (loss) on the sale of real estate		100,000
Payment of mortgage obligation		9,600,000
Gain (Loss) on extinguishment of debt, net of tax		-1,200,000
Number of real estate properties				10
Discontinued Operations \| Assets held-for-sale \| CPA: 16 - Global \| Jointly Owned Investments
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Number of real estate properties				5
Real Estate Investments
Discontinued Operation Additional Disclosures
Revenues	176,425,000	135,260,000
Allocation of goodwill to the cost basis of properties sold or classified as held-for-sale	303,000
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	$1,185,000	$81,000

Property_Dispositions_and_Disc3

Property Dispositions and Discontinued Operations (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Income Statement Disclosures
Revenues	$0	$6,284
Expenses	0	-1,454
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	-1,520
Gain on sale of real estate	0	3,096
Income from discontinued operations	$0	$6,406

Segment_Reporting_Narratives_D

Segment Reporting (Narratives) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
	segment	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of business segments	2
Merger and property acquisition expenses	$5,676	$29,614
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss
Reimbursable tenant and affiliate costs	15,546	45,746
Stock-based compensation expense	7,009	7,043
Investment Management
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss
Reimbursable tenant and affiliate costs	9,600	39,700
Stock-based compensation expense	4,600	4,200
CPA: 16 - Global \| Real Estate Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Merger and property acquisition expenses		$29,500

Segment_Reporting_Details_1

Segment Reporting (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss
Revenues	$220,388	$209,195
Operating expenses	-140,479	-171,605
Interest expense	-47,949	-39,075
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,417	114,569
Provision for income taxes	-1,980	-2,253
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185	81
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-2,466	-1,578
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	0	-135
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	-262
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	36,116	108,937
Real Estate Ownership
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss
Revenues	176,425	135,260
Operating expenses	-105,637	-107,226
Interest expense	-47,949	-39,075
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	7,238	114,897
Provision for income taxes	1,273	4,038
Gain on sale of real estate, net of tax	1,185	81
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	-2,466	-1,389
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	0	-135
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	30,069	106,451
Investment Management
Segment Reporting Information Profit Loss
Revenues	43,963	73,935
Operating expenses	-34,842	-64,379
Other income and expenses, excluding interest expense	179	-328
Provision for income taxes	-3,253	-6,291
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	-189
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	0	-262
Income from continuing operations attributable to W. P. Carey	$6,047	$2,486

Segment_Reporting_Details_2

Segment Reporting (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Assets
Long-lived assets	$5,973,109	$5,905,958
Total assets	8,730,530	8,648,479
Real Estate Ownership
Assets
Long-lived assets	5,948,116	5,880,958
Total assets	8,531,847	8,459,406
Investment Management
Assets
Long-lived assets	24,993	25,000
Total assets	$198,683	$189,073