Debt Narrative - Debt Facilities - Automotive (Details) (Automotive Segment [Member], Debt Facility [Member], USD $)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Line of credit facility	$ 540,000,000
Expected change in interest expense from 25 basis point change in interest rates, 2013	6,000,000
Expected change in interest expense from 25 basis point change in interest rates, 2014	7,000,000
Expected change in interest expense from 25 basis point change in interest rates, 2015	2,000,000
Revolving credit facility, unused borrowing availability	461,000,000	496,000,000
Letter of Credit [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Letters of credit outstanding	39,000,000	38,000,000
Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term Loan Facility	2,960,000,000
Notional value of interest rate swap agreements	1,190,000,000
Average fixed interest rate of variable rate term loans through swap agreements	5.37%
Amount of hedged principal	1,190,000,000
Term Loan [Member] \| Tranche B Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term Loan Facility	1,960,000,000
Term Loan [Member] \| Tranche C Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Term Loan Facility	$ 1,000,000,000
LIBOR [Member] \| Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage spread on debt	1.9375%
Base Rate [Member] \| Term Loan [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage spread on debt	0.9375%
Minimum [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage spread on debt	1.50%
Minimum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage spread on debt	0.50%
Maximum [Member] \| LIBOR [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage spread on debt	2.00%
Maximum [Member] \| Base Rate [Member] \| Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Percentage spread on debt	1.00%

Expected Change in Interest Expense from 25 Basis Point Change in Debt Instrument Interest Rate, Year Three

No definition available.

Name:	iep_ExpectedChangeInInterestExpenseFrom25BasisPointChangeInDebtInstrumentInterestRateYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expected Change in Interest Expense from 25 Basis Point Change in Debt Instrument Interest Rate, Year Two

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_ExpectedChangeInInterestExpenseFrom25BasisPointChangeInDebtInstrumentInterestRateYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Expected Change in Interest Expense from 25 Basis Point Change in Interest Rates, Year One

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_ExpectedChangeInInterestExpenseFrom25BasisPointChangeInInterestRatesYearOne
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Definition

Amount of the hedged item as of the balance sheet date related to the derivative. For example, the hedged balance on a debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAmountOfHedgedItem
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Average fixed interest rate related to the group of interest rate derivatives.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeAverageFixedInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount borrowed under the credit facility as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 129

-Paragraph 2, 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of borrowing capacity currently available under the credit facility (current borrowing capacity less the amount of borrowings outstanding).

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))

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

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityRemainingBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of interest rate derivatives, which relates to the currency amount specified in the interest rate derivative instruments.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5579245-113959

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1B

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5580258-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfInterestRateDerivatives
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant