Guarantor Financial Statements (Unaudited) Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	$ 10,417	$ 10,435
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	23,067	23,219
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	48	74
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other assets	3,511	3,589
Total assets	37,043	37,317	$ 41,296
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	4,944	4,265
Long-term debt, less current portion	13,138	14,795
Deferred income taxes	3,870	3,768
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	3,512	3,487
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other liabilities	1,586	1,745
Total liabilities	27,050	28,060
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,673	6,051
Noncontrolling interests	3,320	3,206
Total equity	9,993	9,257
Total liabilities and equity	37,043	37,317
Eliminations [Member]
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	(779)	(3,260)
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	(11)	0
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(20,379)	(21,110)
Other assets	(492)	(1,965)
Total assets	(21,661)	(26,335)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	(865)	(3,244)
Long-term debt, less current portion	(9,900)	(15,081)
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	(11,022)	(9,888)
Other liabilities	(3,486)	(3,487)
Total liabilities	(25,273)	(31,700)
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	2,967	4,758
Noncontrolling interests	645	607
Total equity	3,612	5,365
Total liabilities and equity	(21,661)	(26,335)
FCX Issuer [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	212	230
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	16	19
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	20,379	21,110
Other assets	508	1,985
Total assets	21,115	23,344
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	2,497	3,895
Long-term debt, less current portion	11,028	12,517
Deferred income taxes	859	826
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	0	0
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other liabilities	59	55
Total liabilities	14,443	17,293
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	6,672	6,051
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	6,672	6,051
Total liabilities and equity	21,115	23,344
FM O&G LLC Guarantor [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	738	1,790
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	790	1,861
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	129	308
Long-term debt, less current portion	6,397	6,062
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	204	200
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	870	893
Other liabilities	3,342	3,393
Total liabilities	10,942	10,856
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	(10,152)	(8,995)
Noncontrolling interests	0	0
Total equity	(10,152)	(8,995)
Total liabilities and equity	790	1,861
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entities [Member]
ASSETS
Current assets, other than assets held-for-sale	10,246	11,675
Property, plant, equipment and mine development costs, net	23,047	23,176
Oil and gas properties, subject to amortization, less accumulated amortization	48	74
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	0	0
Other assets	3,458	3,522
Total assets	36,799	38,447
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities, other than liabilities held for sale	3,183	3,306
Long-term debt, less current portion	5,613	11,297
Deferred income taxes	3,011	2,942
Environmental and asset retirement obligations, less current portion	3,308	3,287
Investments in consolidated subsidiaries	10,152	8,995
Other liabilities	1,671	1,784
Total liabilities	26,938	31,611
Equity:
Stockholders' equity	7,186	4,237
Noncontrolling interests	2,675	2,599
Total equity	9,861	6,836
Total liabilities and equity	$ 36,799	$ 38,447