BUSINESS SEGMENTS INFORMATION (Product Revenue) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 14,198	$ 14,402	$ 18,628
Treatment and refining charges included in copper concentrates revenues	(362)	(404)	(535)
Royalty Expense	(165)	(113)	(246)
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax	13,894	14,348	18,945
Copper in concentrate
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	4,294	4,566	6,180
Rod and other refined copper products
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	2,052	2,110	2,396
Purchased Copper [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	821	1,060	1,053
Copper Cathode
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	4,204	3,656	4,366
Gold
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	1,702	1,620	3,231
Molybdenum
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	848	1,169	1,190
Other
Product revenue [Line Items]
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	592	905	1,490
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments | Sales [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Embedded Derivative, Gain (Loss) on Embedded Derivative, Net	304	54	(317)
PT Freeport Indonesia [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Royalty Expense	$ (160)	(106)	$ (238)
Indonesia Tax Authority | PT Freeport Indonesia [Member] | Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian Government, Indonesia Supreme Court Appeal [Member]
Product revenue [Line Items]
Export Duties Expense		$ (155)