Segment Information - Results Footnote (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	$ (118,377)	$ (154,379)	$ (270,392)	$ (304,160)
Company profit sharing component	(139,742)	(82,140)	(268,211)	(130,988)
Operating income (loss)	1,618,063	955,735	3,112,930	1,549,934
Gross profit decrease from intra-company sales	1,883,342	1,199,692	3,665,855	1,999,958
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,007,085		1,007,085		$ 1,243,868
Short-term investments	351,005		351,005
Inventories	3,647,061		3,647,061		3,531,130
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,886,555		4,886,555		4,751,430
Other assets	335,286		335,286		129,601
Total assets	13,711,214		13,711,214		$ 12,531,234
Operating Segment | Other
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	(12,700)	(18,200)	(32,300)	(36,200)
Company-wide equity-based compensation	(8,800)	(22,900)	(24,700)	(45,900)
Company profit sharing component	(136,700)	(79,000)	(262,300)	(127,100)
Other, net	(4,000)	(7,600)	(17,400)	(9,400)
Operating income (loss)	(162,194)	(127,694)	(336,729)	(218,607)
Assets
Cash and equivalents	827,300		827,300
Short-term investments	351,000		351,000
Accounts receivable	29,100		29,100
Inventories	82,000		82,000
Property, plant and equipment, net	134,800		134,800
Intra-company debt	29,500		29,500
Other assets	257,200		257,200
Total assets	1,710,915		1,710,915
Operating Segment | Metals Recycling Operations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	54,443	47,596	99,403	98,159
Assets
Total assets	1,371,995		1,371,995
Eliminations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	23,898	$ (5,573)	18,455	$ (18,289)
Assets
Accounts receivable	(68,100)		(68,100)
Intra-company debt	(29,500)		(29,500)
Other assets	(54,800)		(54,800)
Total assets	$ (152,394)		$ (152,394)