Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 14)	$ 2,639,671	$ 1,534,605
Short-term investments (Notes 3 and 14)	408,004	300,040
Accounts receivable, net (Note 4)	2,298,850	2,160,102
Inventories, net (Note 5)	3,569,089	3,842,095
Other current assets (Note 19)	573,048	389,528
Total current assets	9,488,662	8,226,370
Property, plant and equipment, net (Notes 6 and 7)	6,899,110	6,178,555
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (Notes 14 and 24)	115,258
Goodwill (Note 8)	2,229,672	2,201,063
Other intangible assets, net (Note 8)	668,021	742,186
Other assets (Notes 6 and 9)	724,671	996,492
Total assets	20,125,394	18,344,666
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt (Notes 11 and 14)	57,906	62,444
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations (Notes 6, 11 and 14)	10,885	29,264
Accounts payable (Note 10)	1,432,159	1,201,698
Salaries, wages and related accruals (Note 17)	462,727	510,844
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Notes 6, 10, 13, 15, 16 and 23)	664,183	659,524
Total current liabilities	2,627,860	2,463,774
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations due after one year (Notes 6, 11 and 14)	5,271,789	4,291,301
Deferred credits and other liabilities (Notes 6, 13, 15, 17 and 19)	993,884	798,415
Total liabilities	8,893,533	7,553,490
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 13, 15 and 16)
Nucor stockholders’ equity (Notes 12, 16 and 20):
Common stock (800,000 shares authorized; 380,154 and 380,154 shares issued, respectively)	152,061	152,061
Additional paid-in capital	2,121,288	2,107,646
Retained earnings	11,343,852	11,115,056
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes (Notes 13 and 20)	(118,861)	(302,966)
Treasury stock (77,909 and 78,342 shares, respectively)	(2,709,675)	(2,713,931)
Total Nucor stockholders’ equity	10,788,665	10,357,866
Noncontrolling interests	443,196	433,310
Total equity	11,231,861	10,791,176
Total liabilities and equity	$ 20,125,394	$ 18,344,666