Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 727	$ 1,764	$ 743
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net gain from securities transactions	(1,488)	(1,927)	(814)
Purchases of securities	(2,592)	(4,931)	(4,043)
Proceeds from sales of securities	7,167	5,373	2,895
Purchases to cover securities sold, not yet purchased	(5,160)	(5,529)	(3,018)
Proceeds from securities sold, not yet purchased	1,307	8,934	1,810
Changes in receivables and payables relating to securities transactions	(2,238)	927	918
Depreciation and amortization	575	447	463
Impairment	129	71	12
Deferred taxes	(297)	(8)	(51)
Other, net	16	(20)	(11)
Changes in cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	3,560	(2,805)	1,180
Accounts receivable, net	(193)	(148)	(185)
Inventories, net	32	(190)	(75)
Other assets	5	(46)	(56)
Accounts payable	(152)	123	140
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	116	(40)	133
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,514	1,995	41
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(890)	(481)	(422)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(1,361)	(142)	116
Proceeds from sale of investments	202	154	4
Purchases of investments	(250)	(150)	0
Other, net	20	5	(9)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,279)	(614)	(311)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Investment segment distributions	(17)	(2,164)	(566)
Investment segment contributions	0	250	419
Partnership contributions	513	0	6
Partnership distributions	(41)	(48)	(85)
Distributions to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries	(38)	(20)	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes	1,030	0	2,499
Proceeds from other borrowings	778	607	107
Repayments of borrowings	(663)	(675)	(1,389)
Repayments of borrowings	(19)	4	(8)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,543	(2,046)	983
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	15	(22)	(6)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	793	(687)	707
Net change in cash of assets held for sale	0	2	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,278	2,963	2,256
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	3,071	2,278	2,963
Supplemental information:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	453	393	293
Net cash payments for income taxes	235	59	35
Net unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities	(1)	5	0
Acquisition of non-controlling interest in CVR	135	0	0
Investment in precious metals	0	150	0
Redemptions payable to non-controlling interests	0	0	346
Fair value investment in Tropicana prior to acquisition of controlling interest	0	0	251
LP unit issuance to purchase majority interests in ARI and Viskase	0	0	310
LP unit issuance to settle preferred LP unit redemptions	0	0	138
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	728	1,765	746
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net gain from securities transactions	(1,488)	(1,927)	(814)
Purchases of securities	(2,592)	(4,931)	(4,043)
Proceeds from sales of securities	7,167	5,373	2,895
Purchases to cover securities sold, not yet purchased	(5,160)	(5,529)	(3,018)
Proceeds from securities sold, not yet purchased	1,307	8,934	1,810
Changes in receivables and payables relating to securities transactions	(2,238)	927	918
Depreciation and amortization	574	446	461
Impairment	129	71	12
Deferred taxes	(297)	(8)	(51)
Other, net	16	(20)	(12)
Changes in cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	3,560	(2,805)	1,180
Accounts receivable, net	(193)	(148)	(185)
Inventories, net	32	(190)	(75)
Other assets	5	(46)	(58)
Accounts payable	(152)	123	140
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	116	(40)	133
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,514	1,995	39
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(890)	(481)	(422)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(1,361)	(142)	116
Proceeds from sale of investments	202	154	4
Purchases of investments	(250)	(150)	0
Other, net	20	5	(9)
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,279)	(614)	(311)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Investment segment distributions	(17)	(2,164)	(566)
Investment segment contributions	0	250	419
Partnership contributions	513	0	6
Partnership distributions	(41)	(48)	(85)
Distributions to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries	(38)	(20)	0
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes	1,030	0	2,487
Proceeds from other borrowings	778	607	107
Repayments of borrowings	(663)	(675)	(1,389)
Repayments of borrowings	(19)	4	6
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	1,543	(2,046)	985
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	15	(22)	(6)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	793	(687)	707
Net change in cash of assets held for sale	0	2	0
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,278	2,963	2,256
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	3,071	2,278	2,963
Supplemental information:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	453	393	293
Net cash payments for income taxes	235	59	35
Net unrealized (loss) gain on available-for-sale securities	(1)	5	0
Acquisition of non-controlling interest in CVR	135	0	0
Investment in precious metals	0	150	0
Redemptions payable to non-controlling interests	0	0	346
Fair value investment in Tropicana prior to acquisition of controlling interest	$ 0	$ 0	$ 251