Segment Information - Results Footnote (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	$ (588,621)	$ (545,621)	$ (643,976)
Companywide equity-based compensation	(60,100)	(69,200)	(80,200)
Company profit sharing component	(272,033)	(452,551)	(388,111)
Operating income (loss)	3,151,181	5,091,822	4,301,105
Gross profit increase from intra-company sales	4,045,883	6,117,831	5,362,424
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,400,887	1,628,417
Short-term and other investments	721,210	628,215
Inventories	2,894,632	3,129,964
Property, plant and equipment, net	6,734,218	5,373,665
Other	651,146	378,727
Total assets	14,908,420	14,159,984
Operating Segment | Other
Operating income (loss)
Corporate SG & A	(91,000)	(77,800)	(78,000)
Companywide equity-based compensation	(58,300)	(67,300)	(78,800)
Company profit sharing component	(264,600)	(444,400)	(379,300)
Other, net	19,300	(4,500)	(13,400)
Operating income (loss)	(394,577)	(594,045)	(549,537)
Assets
Cash and equivalents	1,199,700	1,457,700
Short-term and other investments	951,900	628,200
Accounts receivable	50,100	33,300
Inventories	81,200	90,300
Property, plant and equipment, net	128,900	189,900
Intra-company debt	476,900	47,900
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	234,800	226,600
Other	125,300	139,100
Total assets	3,248,822	2,813,020
Operating Segment | Metals Recycling Operations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	88,654	116,497	181,986
Assets
Total assets	1,458,500	1,320,871
Eliminations
Operating income (loss)
Operating income (loss)	6,016	54,381	(54,894)
Gross profit increase from intra-company sales	4,500	53,000	$ (56,300)
Assets
Inventories	(15,100)	(19,500)
Accounts receivable	(68,000)	(58,000)
Intra-company debt	(476,900)	(47,900)
Total assets	$ (559,975)	$ (125,441)