Segment Information - Results Footnote (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	$ (144,309)	$ (152,015)
Company profit sharing component	(69,575)	(128,469)
Operating income (loss)	835,360	1,494,867
Gross profit decrease from intra-company sales	1,056,122	1,782,513
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,604,943		$ 1,628,417
Short-term investments	714,769		628,215
Inventories	2,988,852		3,129,964
Property, plant and equipment, net	5,491,201		5,373,665
Other	403,303		378,727
Total assets	14,219,760		$ 14,159,984
Operating Segment | Other
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	(23,600)	(19,600)
Companywide equity-based compensation	(13,600)	(15,900)
Company profit sharing component	(68,900)	(125,600)
Other, net	7,200	(13,400)
Operating income (loss)	(98,940)	(174,535)
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,462,700
Short-term investments	714,800
Accounts receivable	40,900
Inventories	133,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	450,800
Intra-company debt	38,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	234,300
Other	83,000
Total assets	3,157,475
Operating Segment | Metals Recycling Operations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	39,688	44,960
Assets
Total assets	1,416,914
Eliminations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	1,580	$ (5,443)
Assets
Accounts receivable	(93,400)
Intra-company debt	(38,000)
Other	(18,600)
Total assets	$ (149,990)