BUSINESS SEGMENTS (Segment Reporting) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended													12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Changes in Deferred Tax Liabilities and Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowances	$ 16,000,000				$ 183,000,000									$ 199,000,000
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														20,921,000,000	[1]	18,010,000,000	[1]	20,880,000,000	[1]
Intersegment														0		0		0
Production and delivery														11,840,000,000		10,382,000,000		9,898,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														2,797,000,000		1,179,000,000		1,022,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														657,000,000		431,000,000		415,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														210,000,000		285,000,000		271,000,000
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														66,000,000		(22,000,000)		134,000,000
Gain on insurance settlement														0		(59,000,000)		0
Operating income	1,650,000,000	[2],[3]	1,707,000,000	[2]	639,000,000	[2]	1,355,000,000	[2]	1,358,000,000	[4],[5]	1,411,000,000	1,311,000,000	1,734,000,000	5,351,000,000	[2],[3]	5,814,000,000	[4],[5]	9,140,000,000
Interest expense, net														518,000,000		186,000,000		312,000,000
Provision for income taxes														1,475,000,000		1,510,000,000		3,087,000,000
Total assets	63,473,000,000								35,440,000,000					63,473,000,000		35,440,000,000		32,070,000,000
Capital expenditures														5,286,000,000		3,494,000,000		2,534,000,000
North America Copper Mines Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														570,000,000		202,000,000		594,000,000
Intersegment														4,613,000,000		5,284,000,000		5,035,000,000
Production and delivery														3,266,000,000		2,933,000,000		2,565,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														402,000,000		360,000,000		278,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														5,000,000		4,000,000		4,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														5,000,000		1,000,000		7,000,000
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														(1,000,000)		(16,000,000)		4,000,000
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														1,506,000,000		2,204,000,000		2,771,000,000
Interest expense, net														4,000,000		1,000,000		4,000,000
Provision for income taxes														0		0		0
Total assets	8,920,000,000								8,148,000,000					8,920,000,000		8,148,000,000		6,974,000,000
Capital expenditures														1,066,000,000		825,000,000		494,000,000
Morenci [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														244,000,000		156,000,000		418,000,000
Intersegment														1,673,000,000		1,846,000,000		1,697,000,000
Production and delivery														1,233,000,000		1,076,000,000		984,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														133,000,000		122,000,000		116,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														2,000,000		2,000,000		2,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		1,000,000		7,000,000
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		(11,000,000)		4,000,000
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														549,000,000		812,000,000		1,002,000,000
Interest expense, net														3,000,000		1,000,000		2,000,000
Provision for income taxes														0		0		0
Total assets	3,110,000,000								2,445,000,000					3,110,000,000		2,445,000,000		2,006,000,000
Capital expenditures														737,000,000		266,000,000		95,000,000
Other North America Copper Mines [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														326,000,000		46,000,000		176,000,000
Intersegment														2,940,000,000		3,438,000,000		3,338,000,000
Production and delivery														2,033,000,000		1,857,000,000		1,581,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														269,000,000		238,000,000		162,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														3,000,000		2,000,000		2,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														5,000,000		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														(1,000,000)		(5,000,000)		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														957,000,000		1,392,000,000		1,769,000,000
Interest expense, net														1,000,000		0		2,000,000
Provision for income taxes														0		0		0
Total assets	5,810,000,000								5,703,000,000					5,810,000,000		5,703,000,000		4,968,000,000
Capital expenditures														329,000,000		559,000,000		399,000,000
South America [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														3,852,000,000		3,910,000,000		4,572,000,000
Intersegment														633,000,000		818,000,000		686,000,000
Production and delivery														2,069,000,000		2,114,000,000		1,905,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														346,000,000		287,000,000		258,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														7,000,000		6,000,000		7,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														2,063,000,000		2,321,000,000		3,088,000,000
Interest expense, net														3,000,000		7,000,000		1,000,000
Provision for income taxes														720,000,000		557,000,000		1,075,000,000
Total assets	10,580,000,000								10,163,000,000					10,580,000,000		10,163,000,000		8,714,000,000
Capital expenditures														1,145,000,000		931,000,000		603,000,000
Cerro Verde [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														1,473,000,000		1,767,000,000		2,115,000,000
Intersegment														360,000,000		388,000,000		417,000,000
Production and delivery														781,000,000		813,000,000		827,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														152,000,000		139,000,000		135,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														3,000,000		3,000,000		4,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														897,000,000		1,200,000,000		1,566,000,000
Interest expense, net														2,000,000		7,000,000		1,000,000
Provision for income taxes														316,000,000		228,000,000	[6]	553,000,000
Total assets	6,584,000,000								5,821,000,000					6,584,000,000		5,821,000,000		5,110,000,000
Capital expenditures														960,000,000		558,000,000		198,000,000
Candelaria [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														1,155,000,000		797,000,000		1,265,000,000
Intersegment														273,000,000		430,000,000		269,000,000
Production and delivery														700,000,000		702,000,000		644,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														69,000,000		32,000,000		28,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														2,000,000		1,000,000		1,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														657,000,000		492,000,000		861,000,000
Interest expense, net														0		0		0
Provision for income taxes														236,000,000		141,000,000		310,000,000
Total assets	1,545,000,000								1,853,000,000					1,545,000,000		1,853,000,000		1,384,000,000
Capital expenditures														110,000,000		259,000,000		178,000,000
Other South America Mines [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														1,224,000,000		1,346,000,000		1,192,000,000
Intersegment														0		0		0
Production and delivery														588,000,000		599,000,000		434,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														125,000,000		116,000,000		95,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														2,000,000		2,000,000		2,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														509,000,000		629,000,000		661,000,000
Interest expense, net														1,000,000		0		0
Provision for income taxes														168,000,000		188,000,000		212,000,000
Total assets	2,451,000,000								2,489,000,000					2,451,000,000		2,489,000,000		2,220,000,000
Capital expenditures														75,000,000		114,000,000		227,000,000
Indonesia - Grasberg [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														3,751,000,000	[7]	3,611,000,000	[7]	4,504,000,000	[8]
Intersegment														336,000,000		310,000,000		542,000,000
Production and delivery														2,309,000,000		2,349,000,000		1,791,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														247,000,000		212,000,000		215,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														110,000,000		121,000,000		124,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														1,000,000		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																(59,000,000)
Operating income														1,420,000,000		1,298,000,000		2,916,000,000
Interest expense, net														12,000,000		5,000,000		8,000,000
Provision for income taxes														603,000,000		497,000,000		1,256,000,000
Total assets	7,437,000,000								6,591,000,000					7,437,000,000		6,591,000,000		5,349,000,000
Capital expenditures														1,030,000,000		843,000,000		648,000,000
Africa - Tenke [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														1,590,000,000		1,349,000,000		1,282,000,000
Intersegment														47,000,000		10,000,000		7,000,000
Production and delivery														754,000,000		615,000,000		591,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														246,000,000		176,000,000		140,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														12,000,000		6,000,000		8,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														625,000,000		562,000,000		550,000,000
Interest expense, net														2,000,000		1,000,000		6,000,000
Provision for income taxes														131,000,000		112,000,000		120,000,000
Total assets	4,849,000,000								4,622,000,000					4,849,000,000		4,622,000,000		3,890,000,000
Capital expenditures														205,000,000		539,000,000		193,000,000
Molybdenum [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														0		0		0
Intersegment														522,000,000		529,000,000		595,000,000
Production and delivery														317,000,000		320,000,000		259,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														82,000,000		59,000,000		45,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														0		0		0
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														123,000,000		150,000,000		291,000,000
Interest expense, net														0		0		0
Provision for income taxes														0		0		0
Total assets	2,107,000,000								2,018,000,000					2,107,000,000		2,018,000,000		1,819,000,000
Capital expenditures														164,000,000		245,000,000		438,000,000
Rod & Refining [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														4,995,000,000		4,989,000,000		5,523,000,000
Intersegment														27,000,000		27,000,000		26,000,000
Production and delivery														4,990,000,000		4,993,000,000		5,527,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														9,000,000		9,000,000		8,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														0		0		0
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		1,000,000
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														23,000,000		14,000,000		13,000,000
Interest expense, net														0		0		0
Provision for income taxes														0		0		0
Total assets	239,000,000								242,000,000					239,000,000		242,000,000		259,000,000
Capital expenditures														4,000,000		6,000,000		10,000,000
Atlantic Copper Smelting & Refining [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost of Goods Sold, Maintenance Costs														50,000,000
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														2,027,000,000		2,683,000,000		2,969,000,000
Intersegment														14,000,000		26,000,000		15,000,000
Production and delivery														2,054,000,000		2,640,000,000		2,991,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														42,000,000		42,000,000		40,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														20,000,000		19,000,000		22,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														(75,000,000)	[9]	8,000,000		(69,000,000)
Interest expense, net														16,000,000		12,000,000		15,000,000
Provision for income taxes														0		0		0
Total assets	1,039,000,000								992,000,000					1,039,000,000		992,000,000		1,109,000,000
Capital expenditures														67,000,000		16,000,000		32,000,000
Corporate, Other & Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														4,000,000		7,000,000		8,000,000
Intersegment														0		0		0
Production and delivery														7,000,000		3,000,000		(3,000,000)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														11,000,000		7,000,000		7,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														354,000,000		257,000,000		231,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														11,000,000		12,000,000		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		(3,000,000)		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														(379,000,000)		(269,000,000)		(227,000,000)
Interest expense, net														220,000,000		79,000,000		191,000,000
Provision for income taxes														21,000,000	[10]	344,000,000		636,000,000
Total assets	1,047,000,000								2,050,000,000					1,047,000,000		2,050,000,000		3,064,000,000
Capital expenditures														56,000,000		20,000,000		57,000,000
Other Mining and Eliminations Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														1,516,000,000	[11]	1,259,000,000	[11]	1,428,000,000	[11]
Intersegment														(6,192,000,000)		(7,004,000,000)		(6,906,000,000)
Production and delivery														(4,608,000,000)		(5,585,000,000)		(5,728,000,000)
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														48,000,000		27,000,000		31,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														29,000,000		18,000,000		19,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														193,000,000		272,000,000		264,000,000
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														67,000,000		(3,000,000)		129,000,000
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														(405,000,000)		(474,000,000)		(193,000,000)
Interest expense, net														80,000,000		81,000,000		87,000,000
Provision for income taxes														0		0		0
Total assets	1,003,000,000								614,000,000					1,003,000,000		614,000,000		892,000,000
Capital expenditures														113,000,000		69,000,000		59,000,000
Mining Operations [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														18,301,000,000		18,003,000,000		20,872,000,000
Intersegment														0		0		0
Production and delivery														11,151,000,000		10,379,000,000		9,901,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														1,422,000,000		1,172,000,000		1,015,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses														183,000,000		174,000,000		184,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses														199,000,000		273,000,000		271,000,000
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														66,000,000		(19,000,000)		134,000,000
Gain on insurance settlement																(59,000,000)
Operating income														5,280,000,000		6,083,000,000		9,367,000,000
Interest expense, net														117,000,000		107,000,000		121,000,000
Provision for income taxes														1,454,000,000		1,166,000,000		2,451,000,000
Total assets	36,174,000,000								33,390,000,000					36,174,000,000		33,390,000,000		29,006,000,000
Capital expenditures														3,794,000,000		3,474,000,000		2,477,000,000
Oil and Gas Operations Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Unaffiliated customers														2,616,000,000	[12]	0		0
Intersegment														0		0		0
Production and delivery														682,000,000		0		0
Depreciation, depletion and amortization														1,364,000,000		0		0
Selling, general and administrative expenses														120,000,000		0		0
Mining exploration and research expenses														0		0		0
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs														0		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement																0
Operating income														450,000,000		0		0
Interest expense, net														181,000,000		0		0
Provision for income taxes														0		0		0
Total assets	26,252,000,000								0					26,252,000,000		0		0
Capital expenditures														1,436,000,000		0		0
PT Smelting [Member]
Revenues:
Revenues to major customers														1,700,000,000		2,100,000,000		2,300,000,000
Cerro Verde [Member]
Revenues:
Deferred Foreign Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Associated with Foreign Reinvested Profits														234,000,000
Crude Oil and Natural Gas Swaps [Member]
Revenues:
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Gain (Loss), Net	$ (118,000,000)		$ (158,000,000)		$ (36,000,000)									$ (312,000,000)

[1] Revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of the customer.

[2] Included charges of $14 million ($10 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.01 per share) in the first quarter, $61 million ($36 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.04 per share) in the second quarter, $1 million ($1 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders) in the third quarter, $4 million ($3 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders) in the fourth quarter and $80 million ($50 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.05 per share) for the year for transaction and related costs principally associated with the acquisitions of PXP and MMR.

[3] Included charges in the fourth quarter and for the year of (i) $76 million ($49 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.05 per share) associated with updated mine plans at Morenci that resulted in a loss in recoverable copper in leach stockpiles, (ii) $37 million ($23 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.02 per share) associated with the restructuring of an executive employment arrangement and (iii) $36 million ($13 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.01 per share) associated with a new labor agreement at Cerro Verde.

[4] Included a gain of $59 million ($31 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.03 per share) in the fourth quarter and for the year for the settlement of the insurance claim for business interruption and property damage relating to the 2011 incidents affecting PT-FI's concentrate pipelines. Refer to Note 12 for further discussion.

[5] Included a charge of $16 million ($8 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.01 per share) in the fourth quarter and for the year associated with a labor agreement at Candelaria. Also included charges of $9 million ($7 million to net income attributable to FCX common stockholders or $0.01 per share) for costs associated with the PXP and MMR transactions.

[6] Included a credit of $234 million for the reversal of a net deferred tax liability.

[7] Included PT-FI's sales to PT Smelting totaling $1.7 billion in 2013 and $2.1 billion in 2012.

[8] Included PT-FI's sales to PT Smelting totaling $2.3 billion.

[9] Included $50 million for shutdown costs associated with Atlantic Copper's scheduled 68-day maintenance turnaround, which was completed in fourth-quarter 2013.

[10] Included $199 million of net benefits resulting from oil and gas acquisitions.

[11] Included revenues from FCX's molybdenum sales company, which included sales of molybdenum produced by the molybdenum mines and by certain of the North and South America copper mines.

[12] Included net charges of $312 million for unrealized and noncash realized losses on crude oil and natural gas derivative contracts that were assumed in connection with FCX's acquisition of PXP.