Segment Information - Results Footnote (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	$ (145,896)	$ (132,627)	$ (431,414)	$ (403,019)
Company profit sharing component	(64,413)	(105,122)	(224,978)	(373,333)
Operating income (loss)	733,550	1,219,844	2,632,645	4,332,774
Gross profit decrease from intra-company sales	952,019	1,464,429	3,314,999	5,130,284
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,765,467		1,765,467		$ 1,628,417
Short-term and other investments	500,844		500,844		628,215
Inventories	2,941,634		2,941,634		3,129,964
Property, plant and equipment, net	6,313,366		6,313,366		5,373,665
Other	643,675		643,675		378,727
Total assets	14,928,956		14,928,956		$ 14,159,984
Operating Segment | Other
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	(20,700)	(15,500)	(66,900)	(47,800)
Companywide equity-based compensation	(11,500)	(14,600)	(36,300)	(39,300)
Company profit sharing component	(63,600)	(103,800)	(220,500)	(366,100)
Other, net	200	(3,300)	8,300	(20,700)
Operating income (loss)	(95,638)	(137,160)	(315,389)	(473,889)
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,607,800		1,607,800
Short-term and other investments	729,000		729,000
Accounts receivable	35,700		35,700
Inventories	126,600		126,600
Property, plant and equipment, net	1,076,000		1,076,000
Intra-company debt	37,000		37,000
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	238,200		238,200
Other	96,900		96,900
Total assets	3,947,177		3,947,177
Operating Segment | Metals Recycling Operations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	13,981	6,735	86,674	106,138
Assets
Total assets	1,475,378		1,475,378
Eliminations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	14,852	$ 18,866	3,247	$ 37,321
Assets
Accounts receivable	(76,700)		(76,700)
Intra-company debt	(37,000)		(37,000)
Other	(17,700)		(17,700)
Total assets	$ (131,395)		$ (131,395)