Debt Table (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 8,548	$ 6,473
Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,805	2,798
Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	926
Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	171	49
Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	275	275
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	215	216
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	71	75
Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	0	0
Senior unsecured notes [Member] | 8% senior unsecured notes due 2018 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,476	1,450
Senior unsecured notes [Member] | 7.75% senior unsecured notes due 2016 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	1,050	1,050
Senior unsecured notes [Member] | Senior unsecured variable rate convertible notes due 2013 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	556	556
Senior unsecured notes [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	275	275
Debt facilities [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,738	2,737
Debt facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	749	0
Debt facilities [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	0	49
Secured credit facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	125	0
Secured credit facilities [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	171	0
Secured credit facilities [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	214	214
Mortgages payable [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	70	75
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	124	67
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	8,540	6,463
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Senior unsecured notes [Member] | 8% senior unsecured notes due 2018 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,471	1,444
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Senior unsecured notes [Member] | 7.75% senior unsecured notes due 2016 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	1,047	1,046
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Senior unsecured notes [Member] | Senior unsecured variable rate convertible notes due 2013 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	556	556
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Senior unsecured notes [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	275	275
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Debt facilities [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,738	2,737
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Debt facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	749	0
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Debt facilities [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	0	49
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Secured credit facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	125	0
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Secured credit facilities [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	171	0
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Secured credit facilities [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	214	214
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Mortgages payable [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	70	75
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 124	$ 67