Income Taxes (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
U.S. operations	$ (829)	[1]	$ 149	[2]	$ (1,664)	[1]	$ 285	[2]
International operations	142		179		282		400
Total	(687)		328		$ (1,382)		685
Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Changes in Deferred Tax Liabilities and Deferred Tax Asset Valuation Allowances			$ 58				$ 58
Consolidated effective income tax rate (percent)					25.00%		35.00%
Valuation Allowance, Deferred Tax Asset, Increase (Decrease), Amount	$ (305)				$ (763)
Effective Income Tax Rate, Adjusted, Percent					38.00%

[1] As a result of the impairment to oil and gas properties, FCX recorded tax charges of $305 million for second-quarter 2015 and $763 million for the first six months of 2015 to establish a valuation allowance primarily against U.S. federal alternative minimum tax credits. Excluding this charge, FCX's consolidated effective income tax rate was 38 percent for the first six months of 2015.

[2] FCX recognized a $58 million charge for deferred taxes recorded in connection with the allocation of goodwill to the sale of Eagle Ford shale assets.