Segment Information - Results Footnote (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	$ (132,627)	$ (157,526)	$ (403,019)	$ (461,686)
Company profit sharing component	(105,122)	(113,880)	(373,333)	(244,868)
Operating income (loss)	1,219,844	1,322,045	4,332,774	2,871,979
Gross profit decrease from intra-company sales	1,464,429	1,600,629	5,130,284	3,600,587
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,420,497		1,420,497		$ 1,243,868
Short-term investments	583,211		583,211
Inventories	3,376,532		3,376,532		3,531,130
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,146,606		5,146,606		4,751,430
Other	359,468		359,468		129,601
Total assets	14,047,698		14,047,698		$ 12,531,234
Operating Segment | Other
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	(15,500)	(17,000)	(47,800)	(53,200)
Company-wide equity-based compensation	(14,600)	(10,700)	(39,300)	(56,600)
Company profit sharing component	(103,800)	(111,100)	(366,100)	(238,200)
Other, net	(3,300)	200	(20,700)	(9,200)
Operating income (loss)	(137,160)	(138,576)	(473,889)	(357,183)
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,230,800		1,230,800
Short-term investments	583,200		583,200
Accounts receivable	28,100		28,100
Inventories	58,000		58,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	280,800		280,800
Intra-company debt	35,800		35,800
Other	294,800		294,800
Total assets	2,511,506		2,511,506
Operating Segment | Metals Recycling Operations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	6,735	43,616	106,138	141,775
Assets
Total assets	1,201,017		1,201,017
Eliminations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	18,866	$ (19,351)	37,321	$ (37,640)
Assets
Accounts receivable	(50,500)		(50,500)
Intra-company debt	(35,800)		(35,800)
Other	(36,400)		(36,400)
Total assets	$ (122,719)		$ (122,719)