Earnings Per Share (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net (loss) income	$ (2,406)		$ 626
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(58)		(106)
Preferred dividends on redeemable noncontrolling interest	(10)		(10)
Undistributed earnings allocable to participating securities	(3)		(1)
Net (loss) income allocable to common stockholders	$ (2,477)		$ 509
Basic weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding	1,040		1,038
Add shares issuable upon exercise or vesting of dilutive stock options and RSUs	0	[1]	6	[1]
Diluted weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding	1,040		1,044
Basic net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders	$ (2.38)		$ 0.49
Diluted net (loss) income per share attributable to common stockholders	$ (2.38)		$ 0.49
Potential anti-dilutive additional shares of common stock (in shares)	3		2
Outstanding stock options with exercise prices greater than average market price of common stock (in shares)	40		30

[1] Excludes shares of common stock totaling approximately three million for first-quarter 2015 and two million for first-quarter 2014 associated with outstanding stock options with exercise prices less than the average market price of FCX's common stock and RSU's that were anti-dilutive.