CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income	$ 5,747	[1]	$ 5,544	$ 3,534
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization	1,022		1,036	1,014
Stock-based compensation	117		121	102
Charges for reclamation and environmental obligations, including accretion	208		167	191
Payments of reclamation and environmental obligations	(170)		(196)	(104)
Losses on early extinguishment of debt	68		81	48
Deferred income taxes	523		286	135
Increase in long-term mill and leach stockpiles	(262)		(103)	(96)
Changes in other assets and liabilities	(76)		79	201
Other, net	(96)		92	142
(Increases) decreases in working capital:
Accounts receivable	1,246		(680)	(962)
Inventories	(431)		(593)	(159)
Other current assets	(57)		(24)	87
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	(387)		331	(438)
Accrued income and other taxes	(832)		132	702
Net cash provided by operating activities	6,620		6,273	4,397
Capital expenditures:
North America copper mines	(495)		(233)	(345)
South America	(603)		(470)	(164)
Indonesia	(648)		(436)	(266)
Africa	(193)		(100)	(659)
Molybdenum	(461)		(89)	(82)
Other	(134)		(84)	(71)
Investment in McMoRan Exploration Co.	25		(500)	0
Other, net	(26)		43	(14)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,535)		(1,869)	(1,601)
Cash flow from financing activities:
Repayments of debt	(1,313)		(1,724)	(1,380)
Proceeds from debt	48		70	330
Cash dividends and distributions paid:
Common stock	(1,423)		(885)	0
Preferred Stock	0		(95)	(229)
Noncontrolling interests	(391)		(816)	(535)
Net proceeds from sale of common stock	0		0	740
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	62		28	57
Net proceeds from stock-based awards	3		81	6
Excess tax benefit from stock-based awards	23		19	3
Other, net	(10)		0	(4)
Net cash used in financing activities	(3,001)		(3,322)	(1,012)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	1,084		1,082	1,784
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	3,738		2,656	872
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$ 4,822		$ 3,738	$ 2,656

[1] Includes additional taxes of $57 million ($50 million net of noncontrolling interests or $0.05 per share) in the third quarter and $53 million ($49 million net of noncontrolling interests or $0.05 per share) for the year associated with Peru's new mining tax and royalty regime. Refer to Note 12 for for further discussion.