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 * DAY ROBERT   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) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 865 SOUTH FIGUEROA ST., STE. 1800 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 05/01/2006 (Street) LOS ANGELES, CA 90017 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 Class B Common Stock 05/01/2006   M   10,000 A $ 30.4375 129,954 D   Class B Common Stock 05/01/2006   M   6,556 A $ 30.4375 136,510 D   Class B Common Stock (3) 05/01/2006   D   6,556 D $ 65.82 129,954 D

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

Options (Right to Buy)

$ 30.4375

05/01/2006

M

10,000

08/01/1997(1)

08/01/2006

Class B Common Stock

10,000

$ 0

0

D

Stock Appreciation Rights

$ 30.4375

05/01/2006

M

6,556

05/02/2000(2)

08/01/2006

Class B Common Stock

6,556

$ 0

0

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
DAY ROBERT 865 SOUTH FIGUEROA ST., STE. 1800 LOS ANGELES, CA 90017

Signatures

Kelly C. Simoneaux, on behalf of Robert A. Day pursuant to a power of attorney		05/02/2006
**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)	25% exercisable on the date indicated and 25% exercisable on each of the next three anniversaries thereof.
(2)	75% exercisable on the date indicated and 25% exercisable on 8/1/00.
(3)	Amount beneficially owned following the reported transactions includes 3,500 Class B Common Stock Restricted Stock Units.

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