XML 151 R120.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Performance Shares and Bonus Shares Granted (Detail)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Performance Shares
Number of Options
Beginning Balance	6,029,716us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	4,262,170us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Granted during the year		5,310,968us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	4,511,700us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Exercised and released	(834,010)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	(515,025)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Forfeited	(879,049)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	(1,862,128)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	(249,530)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Ending Balance	4,316,657us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	6,029,716us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember	4,262,170us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember
Performance Shares | Sibanye Spin-off
Number of Options
Granted during the year		396,229us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gfi_SibanyeSpinoffMember
Forfeited		(1,562,498)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = us-gaap_PerformanceSharesMember / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gfi_SibanyeSpinoffMember
Bonus Shares
Number of Options
Beginning Balance	882,072us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	792,376us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember
Granted during the year	4,000,559us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	2,018,771us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	1,368,423us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember
Exercised and released	(2,167,802)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	(1,314,156)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	(528,392)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember
Forfeited	(552,907)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	(373,896)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	(47,655)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember
Ending Balance	2,161,922us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	882,072us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember	792,376us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember
Bonus Shares | Sibanye Spin-off
Number of Options
Forfeited		(241,023)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod / us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis = gfi_BonusShareMember / us-gaap_RestructuringCostAndReserveAxis = gfi_SibanyeSpinoffMember

X

- Definition

The number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28,29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29, 30

-Article 5

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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X

- Details

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