CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (USD $) Share data in Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 21,438,000,000	[1],[2]	$ 20,921,000,000	[2],[3]	$ 18,010,000,000	[2]
Cost of sales:
Production and delivery	11,904,000,000		11,840,000,000		10,382,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	3,863,000,000		2,797,000,000		1,179,000,000
Impairment of oil and gas properties	3,737,000,000		0		0
Total cost of sales	19,504,000,000		14,637,000,000		11,561,000,000
Selling, general and administrative expenses	592,000,000		657,000,000		431,000,000
Mining exploration and research expenses	126,000,000		210,000,000		285,000,000
Environmental obligations and shutdown costs	119,000,000		66,000,000		(22,000,000)
Goodwill impairment	1,717,000,000		0		0
Net gain on sales of assets	717,000,000		0		0
Gain on insurance settlement	0		0		(59,000,000)
Total costs and expenses	21,341,000,000		15,570,000,000		12,196,000,000
Operating income	97,000,000	[4],[5]	5,351,000,000	[6],[7]	5,814,000,000
Interest expense, net	(630,000,000)		(518,000,000)		(186,000,000)
Net gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt	73,000,000		(35,000,000)		(168,000,000)
Gain on investment in McMoRan Exploration Co. (MMR)	0		128,000,000		0
Other income (expense), net	36,000,000		(13,000,000)		27,000,000
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in affiliated companies' net earnings	(424,000,000)		4,913,000,000		5,487,000,000
Provision for income taxes	(324,000,000)	[8],[9]	(1,475,000,000)	[10]	(1,510,000,000)	[11]
Equity in affiliated companies’ net earnings	3,000,000		3,000,000		3,000,000
Net (loss) income	(745,000,000)	[12],[13]	3,441,000,000	[14]	3,980,000,000
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	523,000,000		761,000,000		939,000,000
Preferred dividends attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	(40,000,000)		(22,000,000)		0
Net (loss) income attributable to FCX common stockholders	$ (1,308,000,000)	[1],[12],[13],[4],[5]	$ 2,658,000,000	[14],[15],[16],[3],[6],[7]	$ 3,041,000,000
Net (loss) income per share attributable to FCX common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (1.26)		$ 2.65		$ 3.20
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (1.26)	[1],[12],[13],[4],[5]	$ 2.64	[14],[15],[16],[3],[6],[7]	$ 3.19
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic (in shares)	1,039		1,002		949
Diluted (in shares)	1,039		1,006		954
Dividends declared per share of common stock (in dollars per share)	$ 1.25		$ 2.25		$ 1.25

[1] Includes credits (charges) of $15 million ($9 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.01 per share) in the first quarter, $(7) million ($(4) million to net income attributable to common stockholders) in the second quarter, $122 million ($76 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.07 per share) in the third quarter, $497 million ($309 million to net loss attributable to common stockholders or $0.30 per share) in the fourth quarter and $627 million ($389 million to net loss attributable to common stockholders or $0.37 per share) for the year for net unrealized and noncash realized gains (losses) on crude oil and natural gas derivative contracts.

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

[3] Includes charges of $36 million ($23 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.02 per share) in the second quarter, $158 million ($98 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.09 per share) in the third quarter, $118 million ($73 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.07 per share) in the fourth quarter and $312 million ($194 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.19 per share) for the year (reflecting the seven-month period from June 1, 2013, to December 31, 2013) for unrealized and noncash realized losses on crude oil and natural gas derivative contracts.

[4] Includes net gains of $46 million ($31 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.03 per share) in third quarter, $671 million ($450 million to net loss attributable to common stockholders or $0.43 per share) in the fourth quarter and $717 million ($481 million to net loss attributable to common stockholders or $0.46 per share) for the year primarily from the sale of the Candelaria and Ojos del Salado copper mining operations in the fourth quarter (refer to Note 2 for further discussion) and the sale of a metals injection molding plant in the third quarter.

[5] Includes a charge of $308 million ($192 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.18 per share) in the third quarter, $3.4 billion ($2.1 billion to net loss attributable to common stockholders or $2.05 per share) in the fourth quarter and $3.7 billion ($2.3 billion to net loss attributable to common stockholders or $2.24 per share) for the year to reduce the carrying value of oil and gas properties pursuant to full cost accounting rules. Additionally, the fourth quarter and the year includes a goodwill impairment charge of $1.7 billion ($1.65 per share) for the full carrying value of goodwill.

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

[7] Includes charges in the fourth quarter and for the year of (i) $76 million ($49 million to net income attributable to 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 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 common stockholders or $0.01 per share) associated with a new labor agreement at Cerro Verde.

[8] Includes charges related to changes in Chilean and Peruvian tax rules of $54 million and $24 million, respectively.

[9] Includes a net charge of $221 million related to the sale of Candelaria/Ojos.

[10] Includes a net tax benefit of $199 million as a result of the oil and gas acquisitions.

[11] Includes the reversal of Cerro Verde's deferred income tax liability of $234 million.

[12] Includes a tax charge of $57 million ($0.06 per share) in the second quarter, $5 million in the third quarter, $22 million ($0.02 per share) in the fourth quarter and $84 million ($0.08 per share) for the year associated with deferred taxes recorded in connection with the allocation of goodwill to the sale of the Eagle Ford properties. Additionally, includes a net tax charge (benefit) of $54 million ($7 million attributable to noncontrolling interests and $47 million to net income attributable to common stockholders or $0.04 per share) in the third quarter, $(17) million ($11 million attributable to noncontrolling interests and $(28) million to net loss attributable to common stockholders or $(0.03) per share) in the fourth quarter and $37 million ($18 million attributable to noncontrolling interests and $19 million to net loss attributable to common stockholders or $0.02 per share) for the year associated with changes in Chilean tax rules, U.S. federal income tax regulations and Peruvian tax rules, partially offset by a tax benefit related to changes in U.S. state income tax filing positions.

[13] Includes net gains (losses) on early extinguishment of debt totaling $4 million in the second quarter, $17 million ($0.02 per share) in the third quarter, $(18) million ($(0.02) per share) in the fourth quarter and $3 million for the year. Refer to Note 8 for further discussion.

[14] Includes a net tax benefit of $183 million ($0.19 per share) in the second quarter, $16 million ($0.01 per share) in the fourth quarter and $199 million ($0.20 per share) for the year associated with net reductions in FCX's deferred tax liabilities and deferred tax asset valuation allowances related to the acquisitions of PXP and MMR.

[15] Includes net (losses) gains on early extinguishment of debt totaling $(40) million ($(0.04) per share) in the first quarter, $5 million ($0.01 per share) in the second quarter for an adjustment related to taxes on the first quarter losses, $7 million ($0.01 per share) in the fourth quarter and $(28) million ($(0.03) per share) for the year. Refer to Note 8 for further discussion.

[16] Includes a gain of $128 million ($0.13 per share) in the second quarter and for the year related to FCX's preferred stock investment in and the subsequent acquisition of MMR. Refer to Note 2 for further discussion.