CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Total	Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Capital in Excess of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Common Stock Held in Treasury [Member]	Total FCX Stockholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 10,757	$ 2,875	$ 98	$ 15,637	$ (5,805)	$ (273)	$ (3,413)	$ 9,119	$ 1,638
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2009		29	981				122
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversions of 6 3/4% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock	0	(2,875)	8	2,867				0
Conversions of 6 3/4% Mandatory Convertible Preferred Stock (in shares)		29	79
Conversions of 7% Convertible Senior Notes	1	0	0	1				1
Converions of 7% Convertible Senior Notes (in shares)		0	0
Exercised and issued stock-based awards	110		1	109				110
Exercised and issued stock-based awards (in shares)			7
Stock-based compensation	129			129				129
Tax benefit for stock-based awards	8			8				8
Tender of shares for stock-based awards	(28)						(28)	(28)
Tender of shares for stock-based awards (in shares)							0
Dividends on common stock	(1,058)				(1,058)			(1,058)
Dividends on preferred stock	(63)				(63)			(63)
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(816)								(816)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	28								28
Total comprehensive income (loss)	5,492	0	0	0	4,336	(50)	0	4,286	1,206
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	14,560	0	107	18,751	(2,590)	(323)	(3,441)	12,504	2,056
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		0	1,067				122
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercised and issued stock-based awards	48		0	48				48
Exercised and issued stock-based awards (in shares)			4
Stock-based compensation	117			117				117
Tax benefit for stock-based awards	24			24				24
Tender of shares for stock-based awards	(45)			67			(112)	(45)
Tender of shares for stock-based awards (in shares)							1
Dividends on common stock	(1,424)				(1,424)			(1,424)
Dividends on preferred stock	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(391)								(391)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	62								62
Total comprehensive income (loss)	5,602	0	0	0	4,560	(142)	0	4,418	1,184
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	18,553	0	107	19,007	546	(465)	(3,553)	15,642	2,911
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		0	1,071				123
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Exercised and issued stock-based awards	15		0	15				15
Exercised and issued stock-based awards (in shares)			2
Stock-based compensation	100			100				100
Tax benefit for stock-based awards	7			7				7
Tender of shares for stock-based awards	(16)			7			(23)	(16)
Tender of shares for stock-based awards (in shares)							1
Dividends on common stock	(1,188)				(1,188)			(1,188)
Dividends on preferred stock	0
Dividends to noncontrolling interests	(113)								(113)
Change in ownership interests	0			(17)				(17)	17
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	15								15
Total comprehensive income (loss)	3,938	0	0	0	3,041	(41)	0	3,000	938
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 21,311	$ 0	$ 107	$ 19,119	$ 2,399	$ (506)	$ (3,576)	$ 17,543	$ 3,768
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		0	1,073				124