Guarantor Financial Statements (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	$ 9,359	$ 10,091
Current assets held for sale	408	344
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	23,117	23,219
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	57	74
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other assets	3,635	3,589
Total assets	36,576	37,317	$ 42,664
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	4,586	4,060
Current liabilities held for sale	256	205
Long-term debt, less current portion	13,135	14,795
Deferred income taxes	3,786	3,768
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	3,507	3,487
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other liabilities	1,719	1,745
Total liabilities	26,989	28,060
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,318	6,051
Noncontrolling interests	3,269	3,206
Total equity	9,587	9,257
Total liabilities and equity	36,576	37,317
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	(710)	(3,260)
Current assets held for sale	0	0
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	(1)	0
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(19,865)	(21,110)
Other assets	(522)	(1,965)
Total assets	(21,098)	(26,335)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	(787)	(3,244)
Current liabilities held for sale	0	0
Long-term debt, less current portion	(9,770)	(15,081)
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(10,934)	(9,888)
Other liabilities	(3,486)	(3,487)
Total liabilities	(24,977)	(31,700)
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	3,262	4,758
Noncontrolling interests	617	607
Total equity	3,879	5,365
Total liabilities and equity	(21,098)	(26,335)
FCX Issuer [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	176	230
Current assets held for sale	0	0
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	17	19
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	19,865	21,110
Other assets	542	1,985
Total assets	20,600	23,344
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	2,360	3,895
Current liabilities held for sale	0	0
Long-term debt, less current portion	11,032	12,517
Deferred income taxes	829	826
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other liabilities	61	55
Total liabilities	14,282	17,293
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,318	6,051
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	6,318	6,051
Total liabilities and equity	20,600	23,344
FM O&G LLC Guarantor [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	717	1,790
Current assets held for sale	0	0
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	15	24
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other assets	37	47
Total assets	769	1,861
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	171	308
Current liabilities held for sale	0	0
Long-term debt, less current portion	6,297	6,062
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	201	200
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	844	893
Other liabilities	3,346	3,393
Total liabilities	10,859	10,856
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(10,090)	(8,995)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	(10,090)	(8,995)
Total liabilities and equity	769	1,861
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	9,176	11,331
Current assets held for sale	408	344
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	23,086	23,176
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	57	74
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other assets	3,578	3,522
Total assets	36,305	38,447
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	2,842	3,101
Current liabilities held for sale	256	205
Long-term debt, less current portion	5,576	11,297
Deferred income taxes	2,957	2,942
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	3,306	3,287
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	10,090	8,995
Other liabilities	1,798	1,784
Total liabilities	26,825	31,611
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,828	4,237
Noncontrolling interests	2,652	2,599
Total equity	9,480	6,836
Total liabilities and equity	$ 36,305	$ 38,447