FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * ADKERSON RICHARD C   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol FREEPORT MCMORAN COPPER & GOLD INC [FCX] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) President and CEO (Last) (First) (Middle) ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 01/30/2009 (Street) PHOENIX, AZ 85004 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 01/30/2009   F(1)   50,597 D $ 25.14 1,383,484 D   Common Stock 01/31/2009   F(2)   37,305 D $ 25.14 1,317,659 D   Common Stock               1,916 I By 401(k) Plan (3) Common Stock               8,248 I By IRA

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
ADKERSON RICHARD C ONE NORTH CENTRAL AVENUE PHOENIX, AZ 85004	X		President and CEO

Signatures

Kelly C. Simoneaux, on behalf of Richard C. Adkerson pursuant to a power of attorney		02/03/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	Shares withheld to cover the taxes due upon the vesting of 127,964 Common Stock Restricted Stock Units.
(2)	Shares withheld to cover the taxes due upon the vesting of 94,346 Common Stock Restricted Stock Units. 28,520 of the net shares issued to the Reporting Person pursuant to the vesting were previously transferred to his former spouse and are no longer included in his beneficial ownership.
(3)	Based on plan statement as of December 31, 2008.
Remarks: As of January 31, 2009, Mr. Adkerson's direct beneficial ownership included 684,389 shares of common stock and 633,270 Common Stock Restricted Stock Units.  He also held options to acquire a total of 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock, 375,000 of which were vested.  Mr. Adkerson has transferred the economic value of 125,000 of such options to his former spouse, and thus disclaims beneficial ownership of such options.

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