Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 14)	$ 2,364,858	$ 2,639,671
Short-term investments (Notes 3 and 14)	253,005	408,004
Accounts receivable, net (Note 4)	3,853,972	2,298,850
Inventories, net (Note 5)	6,011,182	3,569,089
Other current assets (Notes 13, 14 and 19)	316,540	573,048
Total current assets	12,799,557	9,488,662
Property, plant and equipment, net (Notes 6 and 7)	8,114,818	6,899,110
Restricted cash and cash equivalents (Notes 14 and 24)	143,800	115,258
Goodwill (Note 8)	2,827,344	2,229,672
Other intangible assets, net (Note 8)	1,103,759	668,021
Other assets (Notes 6 and 9)	833,794	724,671
Total assets	25,823,072	20,125,394
Current liabilities:
Short-term debt (Notes 11 and 14)	107,723	57,906
Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations (Notes 6, 11 and 14)	615,678	10,885
Accounts payable (Note 10)	1,974,041	1,432,159
Salaries, wages and related accruals (Note 17)	1,495,166	462,727
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (Notes 6, 10, 13, 15, 16 and 23)	964,805	664,183
Total current liabilities	5,157,413	2,627,860
Long-term debt and finance lease obligations due after one year (Notes 6, 11 and 14)	4,961,410	5,271,789
Deferred credits and other liabilities (Notes 6, 13, 15, 17 and 19)	1,100,455	993,884
Total liabilities	11,219,278	8,893,533
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	2,140,608	2,121,288
Retained earnings	17,674,100	11,343,852
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes (Notes 13 and 20)	(115,282)	(118,861)
Treasury stock (107,742 and 77,909 shares, respectively)	(5,835,098)	(2,709,675)
Total Nucor stockholders’ equity	14,016,389	10,788,665
Noncontrolling interests	587,405	443,196
Total equity	14,603,794	11,231,861
Total liabilities and equity	$ 25,823,072	$ 20,125,394