Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 15)	$ 1,534,605	$ 1,398,886
Short-term investments (Notes 4 and 15)	300,040	0
Accounts receivable, net (Note 5)	2,160,102	2,505,568
Inventories, net (Note 6)	3,842,095	4,553,500
Other current assets (Notes 14, 15 and 20)	389,528	178,311
Total current assets	8,226,370	8,636,265
Property, plant and equipment, net (Notes 7 and 8)	6,178,555	5,334,748
Goodwill (Notes 3 and 9)	2,201,063	2,184,336
Other intangible assets, net (Notes 3 and 9)	742,186	828,504
Other assets (Notes 7 and 10)	996,492	936,735
Total assets	18,344,666	17,920,588
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt (Notes 12 and 15)	62,444	57,870
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations (Notes 7, 12 and 15)	29,264
Accounts payable (Note 11)	1,201,698	1,428,191
Salaries, wages and related accruals (Note 18)	510,844	709,397
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Notes 7, 11, 14, 16 and 17)	659,524	610,842
Total current liabilities	2,463,774	2,806,300
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations due after one year (Notes 7, 12 and 15)	4,291,301	4,233,276
Deferred credits and other liabilities (Notes 7, 14, 16, 18 and 20)	798,415	679,044
Total liabilities	7,553,490	7,718,620
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 14, 16 and 17)
Nucor stockholders’ equity (Notes 13, 17 and 21):
Common stock (800,000 shares authorized; 380,154 and 380,154 shares issued, respectively)	152,061	152,061
Additional paid-in capital	2,107,646	2,073,715
Retained earnings	11,115,056	10,337,445
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes (Notes 14 and 21)	(302,966)	(304,133)
Treasury stock (78,342 and 74,562 shares, respectively)	(2,713,931)	(2,467,010)
Total Nucor stockholders’ equity	10,357,866	9,792,078
Noncontrolling interests	433,310	409,890
Total equity	10,791,176	10,201,968
Total liabilities and equity	$ 18,344,666	$ 17,920,588