CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total		Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Common Stock Held in Treasury [Member]	Total FCX Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 18,553		$ 107	$ 19,007	$ 546	$ (465)	$ (3,553)	$ 15,642	$ 2,911
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011			1,071				123
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercised and issued stock-based awards	15		0	15	0	0	0	15	0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards (in shares)			2				0
Stock-based compensation	100		0	100	0	0	0	100	0
(Reserve on) tax benefit for stock-based awards	7			7	0	0	0	7	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards	(16)		0	7	0	0	(23)	(16)	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards (in shares)			0				1
Dividends on common stock	(1,188)		0	0	(1,188)	0	0	(1,188)	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(113)		0	0	0	0	0	0	(113)
Change in ownership interests	0			(17)				(17)	17
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	15								15
Net income attributable to FCX common stockholders	3,041		0	0	3,041	0	0	3,041	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	939		0	0	0	0	0	0	939
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(42)		0	0	0	(41)	0	(41)	(1)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	21,311		107	19,119	2,399	(506)	(3,576)	17,543	3,768
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012			1,073				124
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued to acquire Plains Exploration & Production Company	2,831		9	2,822	0	0	0	2,831	0
Common stock issued to acquire Plains Exploration & Production Company (in shares)			91				0
Exchange of employee stock-based awards in connection with acquisitions	67		0	67	0	0	0	67	0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards	9		1	8	0	0	0	9	0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards (in shares)			1				0
Stock-based compensation	153		0	153	0	0	0	153	0
(Reserve on) tax benefit for stock-based awards	(1)			(1)	0	0	0	(1)	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards	(105)		0	0	0	0	(105)	(105)	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards (in shares)			0				3
Dividends on common stock	(2,315)		0	0	(2,315)	0	0	(2,315)	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(236)		0	0	0	0	0	0	(236)
Noncontrolling interests' share of contributed capital in subsidiary	0		0	(7)	0	0	0	(7)	7
Net income attributable to FCX common stockholders	2,658	[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6]	0	0	2,658	0	0	2,658	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	761		0	0	0	0	0	0	761
Other comprehensive income (loss)	98		0	0	0	101	0	101	(3)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	25,231		117	22,161	2,742	(405)	(3,681)	20,934	4,297
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			1,165				127
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercised and issued stock-based awards	12		0	12	0	0	0	12	0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards (in shares)			2				0
Stock-based compensation	98		0	98	0	0	0	98	0
(Reserve on) tax benefit for stock-based awards	6			5	0	0	0	5	1
Tender of shares for stock-based awards	(8)		0	6	0	0	(14)	(8)	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards (in shares)			0				1
Dividends on common stock	(1,306)		0	0	(1,306)	0	0	(1,306)	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(396)		0	0	0	0	0	0	(396)
Noncontrolling interests' share of contributed capital in subsidiary	6		0	(1)	0	0	0	(1)	7
Sale of Candelaria and Ojos del Salado	(243)		0	0	0	0	0	0	(243)
Net income attributable to FCX common stockholders	(1,308)	[10],[11],[7],[8],[9]	0	0	(1,308)	0	0	(1,308)	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	523		0	0	0	0	0	0	523
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(141)		0	0	0	(139)	0	(139)	(2)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 22,474		$ 117	$ 22,281	$ 128	$ (544)	$ (3,695)	$ 18,287	$ 4,187
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			1,167				128

[1] 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.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[4] 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.

[5] 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.

[6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] 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.

[9] 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.

[10] 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.

[11] 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.