Investments - Summary of Real Estate and Loan Activity (Details)
$ in Thousands
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2018
USD ($)
Property
Number of Properties  
Gross balance, beginning balance (in properties) | Property 2,480
Acquisitions/improvements (in properties) | Property 7
Dispositions of real estate (in properties) | Property (46)
Principal payments and payoffs (in properties) | Property (28)
Impairments (in properties) | Property 0
Write-off of gross lease intangibles (in properties) | Property 0
Loan premium amortization and other (in properties) | Property 0
Spin-off to SMTA | Property (901)
Gross balance, ending balance (in properties) | Property 1,512
Dollar Amount of Investments  
Gross balance, beginning balance $ 7,903,025
Acquisitions/improvements 77,165
Dispositions of real estate (79,862)
Principal payments and payoffs (23,299)
Impairments (15,918)
Write-off of gross lease intangibles (47,003)
Loan premium amortization and other (2,097)
Spin-off to SMTA (2,892,940)
Gross balance, ending balance 4,919,071
Accumulated depreciation and amortization (661,537)
Other (1)
Net balance, ending balance $ 4,257,533
Owned Properties  
Number of Properties  
Gross balance, beginning balance (in properties) | Property 2,392
Acquisitions/improvements (in properties) | Property 5
Dispositions of real estate (in properties) | Property (40)
Principal payments and payoffs (in properties) | Property 0
Impairments (in properties) | Property 0
Write-off of gross lease intangibles (in properties) | Property 0
Loan premium amortization and other (in properties) | Property 0
Spin-off to SMTA | Property (899)
Gross balance, ending balance (in properties) | Property 1,458
Dollar Amount of Investments  
Gross balance, beginning balance $ 7,823,058
Acquisitions/improvements 39,277
Dispositions of real estate (79,862)
Principal payments and payoffs 0
Impairments (15,918)
Write-off of gross lease intangibles (47,003)
Loan premium amortization and other (867)
Spin-off to SMTA (2,855,052)
Gross balance, ending balance 4,863,633
Accumulated depreciation and amortization (661,537)
Other (1)
Net balance, ending balance $ 4,202,095
Financed Properties  
Number of Properties  
Gross balance, beginning balance (in properties) | Property 88
Acquisitions/improvements (in properties) | Property 2
Dispositions of real estate (in properties) | Property (6)
Principal payments and payoffs (in properties) | Property (28)
Impairments (in properties) | Property 0
Write-off of gross lease intangibles (in properties) | Property 0
Loan premium amortization and other (in properties) | Property 0
Spin-off to SMTA | Property (2)
Gross balance, ending balance (in properties) | Property 54
Dollar Amount of Investments  
Gross balance, beginning balance $ 79,967
Acquisitions/improvements 37,888
Dispositions of real estate 0
Principal payments and payoffs (23,299)
Impairments 0
Write-off of gross lease intangibles 0
Loan premium amortization and other (1,230)
Spin-off to SMTA (37,888)
Gross balance, ending balance 55,438
Accumulated depreciation and amortization 0
Other 0
Net balance, ending balance $ 55,438