Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	General partner	Limited partners	Held in Treasury	Parent [Member]	Non-controlling Interests	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] General partner	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] Limited partners	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] Parent [Member]	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] Non-controlling Interests
Equity at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 7,119	$ 18	$ 2,828	$ (12)	$ 2,834	$ 4,285	$ 7,274	$ (12)	$ 3,001	$ 2,989	$ 4,285
Treasury units at Dec. 31, 2009	1,137,200
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	743	4	195	0	199	544	746	2	200	202	544
Other comprehensive loss	60	1	45	0	46	14	60	0	46	46	14
Partnership distributions	(85)	(2)	(83)	0	(85)	0	(85)	(1)	(84)	(85)	0
Tropicana acquisition	237	0	0	0	0	237	237	0	0	0	237
Partnership contributions	6	6	0	0	6	0	3	3	0	3	0
Investment segment distributions	(803)	0	0	0	0	(803)	(803)	0	0	0	(803)
Investment segment contributions	430	0	0	0	0	430	430	0	0	0	430
ARI and Viskase acquisitions	0	(310)	310	0	0	0	3	(310)	313	3	0
LP unit issuance to settle preferred LP unit redemptions	138	0	138	0	138	0
Changes in subsidiary equity and other	49	1	44	0	45	4	49	0	45	45	4
Equity at Dec. 31, 2010	7,894	(282)	3,477	(12)	3,183	4,711	7,914	(318)	3,521	3,203	4,711
Treasury units at Dec. 31, 2010	1,137,200
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	1,764	15	735	0	750	1,014	1,765	8	743	751	1,014
Other comprehensive loss	(258)	(4)	(187)	0	(191)	(67)	(258)	(2)	(189)	(191)	(67)
Partnership distributions	(48)	(1)	(47)	0	(48)	0	(48)	0	(48)	(48)	0
Investment segment distributions	(1,818)	0	0	0	0	(1,818)	(1,818)	0	0	0	(1,818)
Investment segment contributions	250	0	0	0	0	250	250	0	0	0	250
LP unit issuance to settle preferred LP unit redemptions	0
Changes in subsidiary equity and other	49	1	60	0	61	(12)	49	1	60	61	(12)
Equity at Dec. 31, 2011	7,833	(271)	4,038	(12)	3,755	4,078	7,854	(311)	4,087	3,776	4,078
Treasury units at Dec. 31, 2011	1,137,200
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net income	727	17	379	0	396	331	728	13	384	397	331
Other comprehensive loss	(127)	(2)	(96)	0	(98)	(29)	(127)	(1)	(97)	(98)	(29)
Cancellation of treasury units	0	0	(12)	12	0	0
Cancellation of treasury units				(1,137,200)
Partnership distributions	(41)	(1)	(40)	0	(41)	0	(41)	0	(41)	(41)	0
Partnership contributions	513	13	500	0	513	0	513	6	507	513	0
Investment segment distributions	(79)	0	0	0	0	(79)	(79)	0	0	0	(79)
Acquisition of CVR	984	0	135	0	135	849	984	0	135	135	849
LP unit issuance to settle preferred LP unit redemptions	0
Changes in subsidiary equity and other	(37)	0	9	0	9	(46)	(37)	0	9	9	(46)
Equity at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 9,773	$ (244)	$ 4,913	$ 0	$ 4,669	$ 5,104	$ 9,795	$ (293)	$ 4,984	$ 4,691	$ 5,104
Treasury units at Dec. 31, 2012	0			0