-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-09-001068.txt : 20090105
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-09-001068.hdr.sgml : 20090105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090105174458
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-09-001068
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ADKERSON RICHARD C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200685

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11307-01
		FILM NUMBER:		09507026

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 POYDRAS STREET
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70112
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5045824000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000831259
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL MINING [1000]
		IRS NUMBER:				742480931
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE
		CITY:			PHOENIX
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85004-4414
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6023668100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1615 POYDRAS STREET
		CITY:			NEW ORLEANS
		STATE:			LA
		ZIP:			70112

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER COMPANY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19910114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd228472.xml
<DESCRIPTION>RCA FORM 4 FILED 1/5/09
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000831259</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER &amp; GOLD INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200685</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ADKERSON RICHARD C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHOENIX</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.44</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1510257</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1316</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8248</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares withheld to cover the taxes due upon the vesting of 40,000 Common Stock Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Based on plan statement as of September 30, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Following the reported transaction, Mr. Adkerson's direct beneficial ownership includes 462,024 shares of common stock and 1,048,233 Common Stock Restricted Stock Units. He also holds options to acquire a total of 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock, 375,000 of which are vested. Mr. Adkerson has transferred the economic value of 125,000 of such options and 47,173 of such Common Stock Restricted Stock Units to his former spouse, and thus disclaims beneficial ownership of such options and restricted stock units.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kelly C. Simoneaux, on behalf of Richard C. Adkerson pursuant to a power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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