Loss Contingency, Loss In Period, Attributable To Parent

No definition available.

Name:	fcx_LossContingencyLossInPeriodAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix:	fcx_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate cost of goods produced and sold during the reporting period, excluding depreciation, depletion, and amortization.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CostOfGoodsSoldExcludingDepreciationDepletionAndAmortization
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount after tax of income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to the noncontrolling interest.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4568447-111683

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 19
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108774443&loc=SL4569616-111683

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsAttributableToNoncontrollingEntity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 280
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 22
-Subparagraph (h)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115929826&loc=d3e8736-108599

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 235
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08(h))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26873400&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 740
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109238882&loc=d3e38679-109324

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The net amount of operating interest income (expense).

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-04.10)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873765&loc=SL114874048-224260

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of expense classified as other.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4,6)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=115205541&loc=SL114868664-224227

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 220
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-04.7)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114873790&loc=SL114874131-224263

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherExpenses
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=fcx_CerroVerdeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_LitigationCaseAxis=fcx_CerroVerdeRoyaltyDisputeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=fcx_RoyaltyAssessmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=fcx_TaxYear2006ToSeptember2011Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=fcx_October2011toTaxYear2013Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=fcx_DisputedRoyaltyAssessmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=fcx_RoyaltyAssessmentsTaxesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TaxPeriodAxis=fcx_December2006toTaxYear2013Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

CONTINGENCIES (Royalty Dispute Schedule) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended			24 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Production and delivery	$ 11,691	$ 10,266	$ 10,687
Interest expense, net	945	801	755
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	(991)	(883)	(371)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	292	274	$ 227
Cerro Verde \| Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute \| Royalty Assessments
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Production and delivery	14	203		$ 217
Interest expense, net	370	145		515
Other expense	22	0		22
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	35	(7)		28
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(176)	(169)		(345)
Loss contingency, loss In period, attributable to parent	$ 195	186		$ 381
December 2006 To September 2011 \| Cerro Verde \| Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute \| Royalty Assessments
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Production and delivery		175
October 2011 to 2013 \| Cerro Verde \| Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute \| Royalty Assessments
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		69
October 2011 to 2013 \| Cerro Verde \| Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute \| Disputed Royalty Assessments [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(136)
October 2011 to 2013 \| Cerro Verde \| Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute \| Royalty Assessments, Taxes [Member]
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		(67)
December 2006 to Tax Year 2013 \| Cerro Verde \| Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute \| Royalty Assessments
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes		$ 129