OTHER LIABILITIES, INCLUDING EMPLOYEE BENEFITS (Schedule of FV of Financial Assets for Pension Plans) (Details) (Pension plan [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
FCX [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 1,350		$ 1,300		$ 1,141
Cash and Receivables In Plan Assets	18		5
Payables In Plan Assets	(14)		(12)
PT Freeport Indonesia [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	124		130		107
Cash and Receivables In Plan Assets	62	[1]	61	[1]
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1,346		1,307
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	215		232
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1,041		989
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	90		86
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Global equity [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	623		481
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Global equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Global equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	623		481
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Global equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | U.S. real estate securities [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	40		61
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | U.S. real estate securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | U.S. real estate securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	40		61
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | U.S. real estate securities [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | U.S. small-cap equity [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	65		52
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | U.S. small-cap equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | U.S. small-cap equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	65		52
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | U.S. small-cap equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Real estate property [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	47		41
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Real estate property [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Real estate property [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Real estate property [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	47		41
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Short-term Investments [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	5		40
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Short-term Investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Short-term Investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	5		40
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Commingled/collective funds [Member] | Short-term Investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Government bonds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	43		48
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	43		48
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets equity [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	41		41
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	41		41
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Corporate bonds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	33		23
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Corporate bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	33		23
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Corporate bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Open-ended mutual funds [Member] | Corporate bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets equity [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	26		28
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	26		28
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets equity [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Foreign bonds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	51		54
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Foreign bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	51		54
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Foreign bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Foreign bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets bonds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	20		37
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	20		37
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Emerging markets bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fixed income securities [Member] | Government bonds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	198		241
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fixed income securities [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fixed income securities [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	198		241
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fixed income securities [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fixed income securities [Member] | Corporate bonds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	52		82
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fixed income securities [Member] | Corporate bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fixed income securities [Member] | Corporate bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	52		82
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Fixed income securities [Member] | Corporate bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Private equity investments [Member] | Private equity investments [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	43		45
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Private equity investments [Member] | Private equity investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Private equity investments [Member] | Private equity investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Private equity investments [Member] | Private equity investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	43		45
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Other investments [Member] | Other investments [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	29		33
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Other investments [Member] | Other investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	1		1
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Other investments [Member] | Other investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	28		32
Investments [Member] | FCX [Member] | Other investments [Member] | Other investments [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	62		69
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	62		69
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Government bonds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	23		27
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	23		27
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Government bonds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Common stocks [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	27		32
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Common stocks [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	27		32
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Common stocks [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Common stocks [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Mutual funds [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	12		10
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	12		10
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	0		0
Investments [Member] | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Mutual funds [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Fair value of plan assets measurement [Line items]
Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets	$ 0		$ 0

[1] Cash consisted primarily of short-term time deposits.