ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED LIABILITIES (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]
Commodity derivative contracts	$ 99		$ 320
Total accounts payable and accrued liabilities	3,653		3,708
Cash interest paid, net	637		397		111
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Member]
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities [Line Items]
Accounts payable	2,439		2,144
Salaries, wages and other compensation	373		352
Accrued interest	166	[1]	210	[1]
Other accrued taxes	137		142
Pension, postretirement, postemployment and other employee benefits	106	[2]	161	[2]
Deferred revenue	105		115
Oil and gas royalty and revenue payable	76		169
Rio Tinto's share of joint venture cash flows	29		33
Commodity derivative contracts	43		205
Other	$ 179		$ 177

[1] Third-party interest paid, net of capitalized interest, was $637 million in 2014, $397 million in 2013 and $111 million in 2012.

[2] Refer to Note 9 for long-term portion.