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Quarterly Information - Schedule of Quarterly Information (Unaudited) (Parenthetical) (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Oct. 03, 2020 | Apr. 04, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Mar. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Losses and impairments of assets |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 613,640 | $ 66,916 | $ 110,000
Net benefit related to state tax credits | $ 39,700 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net benefit related to CARES Act carryback provision | 48,200 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Duferdofin Nucor S.r.l. [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Losses and impairments of assets | 184,000 |  | $ 287,800 |  |  |  | 483,500 |  |
Tax benefit related to investment | 201,900 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Aggregate Assets Impaired [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets | 130,200 |  |  |  | $ 66,900 |  |  |  |
Steel Products [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Restructuring charge |  | $ 16,400 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets |  |  |  |  | 11,900 |  |  |  |
Steel Mills [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Losses and impairments of assets | 103,200 |  |  | $ 20,000 |  |  | $ 103,200 | $ 20,000 |
Impairment of assets |  |  |  |  | 20,000 |  |  |  |
Steel Mills [Member] | Inventory and Long-lived Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets | 103,200 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Raw Materials [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain on the sale of an equity method investment |  |  |  |  |  | $ 33,700 |  |  |
Raw Materials [Member] | Unproved Natural Gas Well Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets | $ 27,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Raw Materials [Member] | Proved Producing Natural Gas Well Assets [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Impairment of assets |  |  |  |  | $ 35,000 |  |  |  |

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