Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Operating activities:
Net earnings before noncontrolling interests	$ 4,912,791	$ 8,079,640	$ 7,122,370
Adjustments:
Depreciation	930,585	826,692	735,406
Amortization	237,730	234,942	129,157
Stock-based compensation	130,162	136,834	135,775
Deferred income taxes	21,419	(46,849)	11,665
Distributions from affiliates	33,621	57,071	200
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	(12,783)	(10,714)	(103,068)
Losses and impairments of assets		101,756	62,161
Changes in assets and liabilities (exclusive of acquisitions and dispositions):
Accounts receivable	663,825	501,225	(1,392,084)
Inventories	(75,042)	962,424	(2,307,336)
Accounts payable	361,146	(496,234)	383,428
Federal income taxes	188,344	(337,359)	313,679
Salaries, wages and related accruals	(290,859)	155,005	997,034
Other operating activities	10,992	(92,379)	142,389
Cash provided by operating activities	7,111,931	10,072,054	6,230,776
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(2,214,157)	(1,947,897)	(1,621,989)
Investment in and advances to affiliates	(35,137)	(258)	(237)
Sale of business		99,681
Disposition of plant and equipment	14,907	32,277	19,401
Acquisitions (net of cash acquired)	(70,824)	(3,553,191)	(1,426,424)
Purchases of investments	(1,471,528)	(913,898)	(493,889)
Proceeds from the sale of investments	1,317,308	590,173	648,887
Other investing activities	(37,000)	(9,596)	399
Cash used in investing activities	(2,496,431)	(5,702,709)	(2,873,852)
Financing activities:
Net change in short-term debt	(24,870)	(58,642)	49,817
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount		2,091,934	196,990
Repayment of long-term debt	(10,000)	(1,111,000)
Bond issuance costs		(13,138)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	11,731	22,852	145,255
Payment of tax withholdings on certain stock-based compensation	(49,318)	(64,079)	(73,260)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(435,047)	(332,293)	(150,700)
Cash dividends	(514,534)	(533,589)	(483,469)
Acquisition of treasury stock	(1,553,933)	(2,762,568)	(3,276,088)
Proceeds from government incentives		275,000
Other financing activities	(16,840)	(25,340)	(11,424)
Cash used in financing activities	(2,592,811)	(2,510,863)	(3,602,879)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,883	(5,920)	(316)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents	2,025,572	1,852,562	(246,271)
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents - beginning of year	4,361,220	2,508,658	2,754,929
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents - end of year	6,386,792	4,361,220	2,508,658
Non-cash investing activity:
Change in accrued plant and equipment purchases	$ 1,053	$ 4,568	$ 78,375