Dispositions (Details) MMBTU in Thousands, bbl in Millions										3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
		Oct. 14, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 12, 2016 USD ($)	Aug. 01, 2016	Jul. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 17, 2016 USD ($)	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 09, 2016 USD ($)	May 02, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 MMBTU	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / bbl $ / MMBTU		Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / bbl $ / MMBTU bbl		Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	May 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net proceeds from sale of additional interest in Morenci																	$ 996,000,000		$ 0
Intersegment											$ 0			$ 0			0		0
Assets
Total current assets held for sale											4,663,000,000			4,868,000,000			4,663,000,000		4,868,000,000			$ 744,000,000
Total long-term assets held for sale											0						0					4,124,000,000
Liabilities
Total current liabilities held for sale											821,000,000						821,000,000					108,000,000
Total long-term liabilities held for sale											0						0					718,000,000
Noncontrolling interests											4,334,000,000						4,334,000,000					4,216,000,000
Costs and expenses:
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations											$ (6,000,000)			25,000,000			$ (191,000,000)		95,000,000
Morenci [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Change in Ownership, Percentage																13.00%
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Serbia [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date									May 02, 2016
Net proceeds from sale of additional interest in Morenci									$ 135,000,000
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High									$ 107,000,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Timok [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Previously Unissued Stock by Subsidiary													$ 133,000,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Morenci [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date							May 31, 2016
Net proceeds from sale of additional interest in Morenci							$ 1,000,000,000
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Previously Unissued Stock by Subsidiary							$ 576,000,000
Change in Ownership, Percentage							13.00%
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company											72.00%						72.00%				85.00%
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Morenci [Member] | Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Percent Of Undivided Interest Owned By Third Party											13.00%						13.00%
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Morenci [Member] | Sumitomo Metal Mining Arizona Inc. [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Percent Of Undivided Interest Owned By Third Party											15.00%						15.00%				15.00%
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Oil and Gas Royalty Interests [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date						Jun. 17, 2016
Net proceeds from sale of additional interest in Morenci						$ 102,000,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Haynesville [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date					Jul. 25, 2016
Net proceeds from sale of additional interest in Morenci					$ 87,000,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Gulf of Mexico [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date			Sep. 12, 2016	Aug. 01, 2016
Preferred Stock, Liquidation Preference, Value			$ 582,000,000
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High			150,000,000
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested			$ 2,000,000,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Onshore California [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		$ 150,000,000
Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Onshore California [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date		Oct. 14, 2016
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested		$ 600,000,000
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Tenke Fungurume [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Date								May 09, 2016
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High								$ 120,000,000
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company								70.00%
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested								$ 2,650,000,000
Intersegment											$ (53,000,000)			(29,000,000)	$ 41,000,000		$ (125,000,000)		(98,000,000)
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents											68,000,000						68,000,000					29,000,000
Inventories											1,129,000,000						1,129,000,000					584,000,000
Receivables and other current assets											140,000,000						140,000,000					131,000,000
Property, plant, equipment and mining development costs, net											3,062,000,000						3,062,000,000					0
Other assets											250,000,000						250,000,000					0
Total current assets held for sale											4,649,000,000						4,649,000,000					744,000,000
Property, plant, equipment and mining development costs, net											0						0					3,261,000,000
Inventories											0						0					608,000,000
Other assets											0						0					241,000,000
Total long-term assets held for sale											0						0					4,110,000,000
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities											84,000,000						84,000,000					108,000,000
Deferred income taxes											691,000,000						691,000,000					0
Asset retirement obligations and other liabilities											46,000,000						46,000,000					0
Total current liabilities held for sale											821,000,000						821,000,000					108,000,000
Deferred income taxes											0						0					681,000,000
Asset retirement obligations and other liabilities											0						0					37,000,000
Total long-term liabilities held for sale											0						0					718,000,000
Noncontrolling interests											1,192,000,000						1,192,000,000					$ 1,178,000,000
Net (Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations in the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Revenues	[1]										261,000,000			299,000,000			819,000,000		991,000,000
Costs and expenses:
Production and delivery costs											248,000,000			207,000,000			730,000,000		637,000,000
Depreciation, depletion and amortization											0	[2]		65,000,000			80,000,000	[2]	195,000,000
Interest expense allocated from parent	[3]										12,000,000			6,000,000			33,000,000		20,000,000
Other costs and expenses, net											4,000,000			7,000,000			10,000,000		24,000,000
(Loss) income before income taxes and estimated loss on disposal											(3,000,000)			14,000,000			(34,000,000)		115,000,000
Estimated loss on disposal	[4]										(5,000,000)			0			(182,000,000)		0
Net (loss) income before income taxes											(8,000,000)			14,000,000			(216,000,000)		115,000,000
Benefit from (provision for) income taxes											2,000,000			11,000,000			25,000,000		(20,000,000)
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations											$ (6,000,000)			$ 25,000,000			$ (191,000,000)		$ 95,000,000
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Tenke Fungurume [Member] | Cobalt [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High								60,000,000
Contingent Consideration, Reference Price		70						20
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Tenke Fungurume [Member] | Copper [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High								60,000,000
Contingent Consideration, Reference Price								$ 3.50
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Tenke Fungurume [Member] | Lundin Mining Corporation [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Percent Of Undivided Interest Owned By Third Party													30.00%			30.00%
Discontinued Operations, Held-for-sale [Member] | Tenke Fungurume [Member] | Tenke Segments [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company													56.00%			56.00%
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Kokkola Cobalt Chemicals Refinery [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company											56.00%						56.00%
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Kokkola Cobalt Chemicals Refinery [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested																				$ 100,000,000
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Kisanfu Exploration Project [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Percentage Of Undivided Interest Owned By Company											100.00%						100.00%
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Kisanfu Exploration Project [Member] | Scenario, Forecast [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from Divestiture of Businesses, Net of Cash Divested																				$ 50,000,000
Crude Oil [Member] | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Onshore California [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		50,000,000
2018 [Member] | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Onshore California [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		50,000,000
2019 [Member] | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Onshore California [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		50,000,000
2020 [Member] | Disposal Group, Disposed of by Sale, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Onshore California [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Range of Outcomes, Value, High		$ 50,000,000
Natural Gas [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Percent of Required Need, Coverage											48.00%						48.00%
Derivative, Forward Price | $ / MMBTU											3.1445						3.1445
Natural Gas [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Energy Measure | MMBTU										28,900
Crude Oil [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Percent of Required Need, Coverage											72.00%						72.00%
Derivative, Forward Price | $ / bbl											50.00						50.00
Crude Oil [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | Crude Oil and Natural Gas Derivatives [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | bbl																	19.4
Derivative, Forward Price | $ / bbl											56.04						56.04
Crude Oil [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Derivative, Nonmonetary Notional Amount, Volume | bbl																	5.2
Derivative, Price Risk Option Strike Price | $ / bbl											63.69						63.69

[1] a.In accordance with accounting guidance, amounts are net of eliminations of intercompany sales totaling $53 million in third-quarter 2016, $29 million in third-quarter 2015, $125 million for the first nine months of 2016 and $98 million for the first nine months of 2015

[2] b.In accordance with accounting guidance, depreciation, depletion and amortization is not recognized subsequent to classification as assets held for sale.

[3] c.In accordance with accounting guidance, interest associated with FCX's Term Loan that will be required to be repaid as a result of the sale of TFHL has been allocated to discontinued operations.

[4] d.In accordance with accounting guidance, an estimated loss on disposal was recorded, which will be adjusted through closing of the transaction.