CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 24, 2022
Cash flows from operating activities
Consolidated net income	$ 490,353	$ 522,585
Reconciliation of consolidated net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	31,053	33,261
Stock-based compensation expense	17,268	12,254
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable	(63)	327
Loss (income) from unconsolidated affiliates	2,682	(6,026)
Insurance proceeds - noncapital related	9,854	1,646
Gain on disposals of properties	(106)	(7,107)
Gain on sale of business	(4,137)	0
Unrealized gain on short-term investments	(18,449)	0
Impairment charges	5,934	0
Gain on insurance settlement	(19,466)	0
Deferred income tax expense	3,803	226
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of business sold:
Receivables	(36,855)	15,741
Inventories	53,372	(33,768)
Other assets	(12,897)	(8,574)
Current liabilities	(25,503)	(5,331)
Other liabilities	(1,828)	(7,399)
Other, net	3,475	(923)
Net cash provided by operating activities	498,490	516,912
Cash flows from investing activities
Capital expenditures	(39,469)	(29,555)
Investments in unconsolidated affiliates	(3,999)	0
Insurance proceeds - capital related	24,646	3,354
Purchase of short-term investments	(106,231)	0
Proceeds from the maturity of short-term investments	217,863	0
Proceeds from sales of assets	214	7,841
Dividends from unconsolidated affiliates	1,093	2,091
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	94,117	(16,269)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to stockholders of Mueller Industries, Inc.	(50,133)	(41,876)
Repurchase of common stock	(19,303)	(38,054)
Repayments of debt	(185)	(148)
(Repayment) issuance of debt by consolidated joint ventures, net	(265)	406
Net cash used to settle stock-based awards	(9,113)	(1,619)
Net cash used in financing activities	(78,999)	(81,291)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	2,312	(10,310)
Increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash	515,920	409,042
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the beginning of the period	465,296	90,376
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at the end of the period	$ 981,216	$ 499,418