Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 953	$ (549)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	419	341
Metals inventory adjustments	1	222
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Assets	0	(11)
Stock-based compensation	41	27
Net charges for environmental and asset retirement obligations, including accretion	39	60
Payments for environmental and asset retirement obligations	(54)	(71)
Net charges for defined pension and postretirement plans	0	18
Pension plan contributions	(21)	(26)
Net loss on early extinguishment of debt	0	32
Deferred income taxes	38	(118)
Other, net	28	(56)
Changes in working capital and other:
Accounts receivable	(361)	205
Inventories	(225)	154
Other current assets	6	(89)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(42)	(149)
Accrued income taxes and timing of other tax payments	286	(2)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,075	(38)
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(370)	(610)
Proceeds from Sale of Other Assets, Investing Activities	5	66
Other, net	(3)	(2)
Net cash used in investing activities	(368)	(546)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from debt	130	1,478
Repayments of debt	(32)	(1,242)
Cash dividends and distributions paid:
Cash dividends paid on common stock	0	(73)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	41	32
Proceeds from exercised stock options	106	1
Payments for withholding of employee taxes related to stock-based awards	(19)	(5)
Payments of Financing Costs	(1)	(18)
Net cash provided by financing activities	225	173
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect	932	(411)
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at beginning of year	3,903	2,278
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at end of period	4,835	1,867
North America Copper Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(26)	(184)
South America Mines Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(21)	(74)
Grasberg Segment [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(310)	(326)
Molybdenum
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1)	(7)
Other Segments [Member]
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(12)	(19)
Cerro Verde Royalty Dispute
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Charges for Cerro Verde royalty dispute	5	9
Payments for Cerro Verde royalty dispute	$ (38)	$ (57)