Consolidated Statement of Equity (Unaudited) - 9 months ended Sep. 30, 2016 - 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, 2015	$ 12,044	$ 7,828	$ 137	$ 24,283	$ (12,387)	$ (503)	$ (3,702)	$ 4,216
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2015			1,374				128
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock	1,294	1,294	$ 12	1,285	0	0	$ (3)	0
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			114				0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards	0	0	$ 0	0	0	0	$ 0	0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards (in shares)			3				0
Stock-based compensation	37	37	$ 0	37	0	0	$ 0	0
Reserve on tax benefit for stock-based awards	(4)	(4)	0	(4)	0	0	0	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards	(5)	(5)	$ 0	0	0	0	$ (5)	0
Tender of shares for stock-based awards (in shares)			0				1
Dividends on common stock	1	1	$ 0	0	1	0	$ 0	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(66)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(66)
Changes in noncontrolling interests	(5)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(5)
Net loss attributable to common stockholders	(4,446)	(4,446)	0	0		0	0	0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, including discontinued operations	190	0	0	0	0	0	0	190
Other comprehensive income (loss)	26	27	0	0	0	27	0	(1)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2016	$ 9,066	$ 4,732	$ 149	$ 25,601	$ (16,832)	$ (476)	$ (3,710)	$ 4,334
Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2016			1,491				129