Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - 9 months ended Sep. 30, 2015 - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Total FCX Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Common Stock Held in Treasury [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 22,474	$ 18,287	$ 117	$ 22,281	$ 128	$ (544)	$ (3,695)	$ 4,187
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			1,167				128
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Sale of common stock	$ 999	999	$ 10	989	0	0	$ 0	0
Sale of common stock (in shares)	98		98				0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards	$ 3	3	$ 0	3	0	0	$ 0	0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards (in shares)			1				0
Stock-based compensation	77	70	$ 0	70	0	0	$ 0	7
Reserve of tax benefit for stock-based awards	(4)	(4)	0	(4)	0	0	0	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards	(7)	(7)	$ 0	0	0	0	$ (7)	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards (in shares)			0				0
Dividends on common stock	(278)	(278)	$ 0	0	(278)	0	$ 0	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(68)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(68)
Noncontrolling interests' share of contributed capital in subsidiary	(1)	(4)	0	(4)	0	0	0	3
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	(8,155)	(8,155)	0	0	(8,155)	0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	129	0	0	0	0	0	0	129
Other comprehensive income	36	35	0	0	0	35	0	1
Balance at Sep. 30, 2015	$ 15,205	$ 10,946	$ 127	$ 23,335	$ (8,305)	$ (509)	$ (3,702)	$ 4,259
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2015			1,266				128