Segment Reporting, Income Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012 reporting_segments		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments																	9
Revenues:
Net sales	$ 3,994	[1],[2]	$ 4,519	[1],[2]	$ 3,707	[1],[2]	$ 2,399	[1],[2]	$ 2,240	[1],[2]	$ 2,279	[1],[2]	$ 2,357	[1],[2]	$ 2,251	[1],[2]	$ 14,619		$ 9,127		$ 7,903
Other revenues from operations																	775		771		228
Net gain from investment activities																	343		1,905		814
Interest and dividend income																	95		117		191
Other (loss) income, net																	(178)		(78)		(64)
Total Revenues	4,241	[1],[2]	4,503	[1],[2]	4,226	[1],[2]	2,684	[1],[2]	3,179	[1],[2]	2,443	[1],[2]	3,142	[1],[2]	3,078	[1],[2]	15,654		11,842		9,072
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	12,643		7,871		6,759
Other expenses from operations																	418		427		144
Selling, general and administrative																	1,265		1,228		999
Restructuring																	31		11		16
Impairment																	129		71		12
Interest expense																	522		436		389
Total Expenses																	15,008		10,044		8,319
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	646		1,798		753
Income tax benefit (expense)																	81		(34)		(9)
Income from continuing operations																	727		1,764		744
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	(331)		(1,014)		(544)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	396		750		200
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	890		481		422
Depreciation and amortization																	548	[3]	410	[3]	427	[3]
Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts																	27		37		36
Investment Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	0		0		0
Other revenues from operations																	0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities																	314		1,887		756
Interest and dividend income																	85		110		178
Other (loss) income, net																	(1)		(101)		(47)
Total Revenues																	398		1,896		887
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	0		0		0
Other expenses from operations																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative																	24		37		41
Restructuring																	0		0		0
Impairment																	0		0		0
Interest expense																	2		15		4
Total Expenses																	26		52		45
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	372		1,844		842
Income tax benefit (expense)																	0		0		(2)
Income from continuing operations																	372		1,844		840
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	(215)		(971)		(492)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	157		873		348
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization																	0		0		0
Automotive Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	6,664		6,910		6,219
Other revenues from operations																	0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities																	0		0		0
Interest and dividend income																	5		6		5
Other (loss) income, net																	8		21		15
Total Revenues																	6,677		6,937		6,239
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	5,753		5,822		5,212
Other expenses from operations																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative																	710		736		704
Restructuring																	26		5		8
Impairment																	98		48		2
Interest expense																	141		141		141
Total Expenses																	6,728		6,752		6,067
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	(51)		185		172
Income tax benefit (expense)																	(29)		(17)		(12)
Income from continuing operations																	(22)		168		160
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	(2)		(47)		(44)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	(24)		121		116
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	387		348		251
Depreciation and amortization																	289		284		333
Energy Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	5,703
Other revenues from operations																	0
Net gain from investment activities																	0
Interest and dividend income																	1
Other (loss) income, net																	(185)
Total Revenues																	5,519	[4]
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	4,848
Other expenses from operations																	0
Selling, general and administrative																	112
Restructuring																	0
Impairment																	0
Interest expense																	39
Total Expenses																	4,999	[4]
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	520	[4]
Income tax benefit (expense)																	182
Income from continuing operations																	338	[4]
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	(75)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	263
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	138	[4]
Depreciation and amortization																	128
Gaming Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	0		0		0
Other revenues from operations																	613		624		78
Net gain from investment activities																	0		0		0
Interest and dividend income																	1		1		0
Other (loss) income, net																	(3)		(1)		0
Total Revenues																	611		624		78
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	0		0		0
Other expenses from operations																	312		329		41
Selling, general and administrative																	250		254		37
Restructuring																	0		0		0
Impairment																	2		5		0
Interest expense																	13		9		1
Total Expenses																	577		597		79
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	34		27		(1)
Income tax benefit (expense)																	4		(3)		0
Income from continuing operations																	30		24		(1)
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	(9)		(11)		2
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	21		13		1
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	44		34		6
Depreciation and amortization																	32		32		5
Railcar Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	575		453		205
Other revenues from operations																	80		66		69
Net gain from investment activities																	2		0		0
Interest and dividend income																	3		3		4
Other (loss) income, net																	(3)		(8)		(8)
Total Revenues																	657		514		270
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	456		410		210
Other expenses from operations																	57		51		55
Selling, general and administrative																	27		25		26
Restructuring																	0		0		0
Impairment																	0		0		0
Interest expense																	18		20		21
Total Expenses																	558		506		312
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	99		8		(42)
Income tax benefit (expense)																	42		(4)		15
Income from continuing operations																	57		4		(27)
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	(28)		(2)		12
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	29		2		(15)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	256		36		6
Depreciation and amortization																	24		22		23
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	343		339		316
Other revenues from operations																	0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities																	0		0		0
Interest and dividend income																	0		0		0
Other (loss) income, net																	(2)		(1)		1
Total Revenues																	341		338		317
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	263		263		234
Other expenses from operations																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative																	45		43		46
Restructuring																	1		0		0
Impairment																	0		0		0
Interest expense																	21		21		21
Total Expenses																	330		327		301
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	11		11		16
Income tax benefit (expense)																	5		(5)		(2)
Income from continuing operations																	6		6		14
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	(2)		(2)		(4)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	4		4		10
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	39		37		20
Depreciation and amortization																	18		16		14
Metals Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	1,102		1,095		725
Other revenues from operations																	0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities																	0		0		0
Interest and dividend income																	0		0		0
Other (loss) income, net																	1		1		0
Total Revenues																	1,103		1,096		725
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	1,116		1,068		697
Other expenses from operations																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative																	28		25		23
Restructuring																	0		0		0
Impairment																	18		0		0
Interest expense																	0		0		0
Total Expenses																	1,162		1,093		720
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	(59)		3		5
Income tax benefit (expense)																	(1)		3		(1)
Income from continuing operations																	(58)		6		4
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	0		0		0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	(58)		6		4
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	24		25		21
Depreciation and amortization																	26		23		18
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	4		8		9
Other revenues from operations																	82		81		81
Net gain from investment activities																	0		0		0
Interest and dividend income																	0		0		0
Other (loss) income, net																	2		1		0
Total Revenues																	88		90		90
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	1		3		6
Other expenses from operations																	49		47		48
Selling, general and administrative																	14		16		19
Restructuring																	0		0		0
Impairment																	0		0		1
Interest expense																	5		6		8
Total Expenses																	69		72		82
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	19		18		8
Income tax benefit (expense)																	0		0		0
Income from continuing operations																	19		18		8
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	0		0		0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	19		18		8
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	2		1		1
Depreciation and amortization																	23		23		23
Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	228		322		429
Other revenues from operations																	0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities																	0		0		0
Interest and dividend income																	0		0		0
Other (loss) income, net																	3		3		2
Total Revenues																	231		325		431
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	206		305		400
Other expenses from operations																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative																	37		61		75
Restructuring																	4		6		8
Impairment																	11		18		9
Interest expense																	0		1		1
Total Expenses																	258		391		493
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	(27)		(66)		(62)
Income tax benefit (expense)																	0		0		0
Income from continuing operations																	(27)		(66)		(62)
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	0		10		20
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	(27)		(56)		(42)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	0		0		2
Depreciation and amortization																	8		10		11
Eliminations [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	0		0		0
Other revenues from operations																	0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities																	0		(9)		(21)
Interest and dividend income																	0		(5)		(1)
Other (loss) income, net																	0		0		0
Total Revenues																	0		(14)		(22)
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	0		0		0
Other expenses from operations																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative																	0		0		0
Restructuring																	0		0		0
Impairment																	0		0		0
Interest expense																	0		0		0
Total Expenses																	0		0		0
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	0		(14)		(22)
Income tax benefit (expense)																	0		0		0
Income from continuing operations																	0		(14)		(22)
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	0		9		14
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	0		(5)		(8)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization																	0	[3]	0		0
Holding Company [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	0		0		0
Other revenues from operations																	0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities																	27		27		79
Interest and dividend income																	0		2		5
Other (loss) income, net																	2		7		(27)
Total Revenues																	29		36		57
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	0		0		0
Other expenses from operations																	0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative																	18		31		28
Restructuring																	0		0		0
Impairment																	0		0		0
Interest expense																	283		223		192
Total Expenses																	301		254		220
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	(272)		(218)		(163)
Income tax benefit (expense)																	(284)		(8)		(7)
Income from continuing operations																	12		(226)		(170)
Less: net income from continuing operations attributable to non-controlling interests																	0		0		(52)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	12		(226)		(222)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures																	0		0		115
Depreciation and amortization																	0		0		0
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales																	14,619		9,127		7,903
Other revenues from operations																	775		771		228
Net gain from investment activities																	343		1,905		814
Interest and dividend income																	95		117		191
Other (loss) income, net																	(178)		(78)		(63)
Total Revenues																	15,654		11,842		9,073
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold																	12,643		7,871		6,759
Other expenses from operations																	418		427		144
Selling, general and administrative																	1,265		1,228		999
Restructuring																	31		11		16
Impairment																	129		71		12
Interest expense																	521		435		387
Total Expenses																	15,007		10,043		8,317
Income before income tax benefit (expense)																	647		1,799		756
Income tax benefit (expense)																	81		(34)		(9)
Income from continuing operations																	728		1,765		747
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	397		751		203
Supplemental information:
Amortization of Financing Costs and Discounts																	26		36		34
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Investment Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	372		1,844		840
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	157		873		348
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	(22)		168		160
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	(24)		121		116
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense																			0		0
Income from continuing operations																	338		0		0
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	263		0		0
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	30		24		(1)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	21		13		1
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	57		4		(27)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	29		2		(15)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	6		6		14
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	4		4		10
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	(58)		6		4
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	(58)		6		4
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	19		18		8
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	19		18		8
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	(27)		(66)		(62)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	(27)		(56)		(42)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Expenses:
Income from continuing operations																	0		(14)		(22)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	0		(5)		(8)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Holding Company [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense																	282		222		190
Income from continuing operations																	13		(225)		(167)
Net income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises																	$ 13		$ (225)		$ (219)

[1] We consolidated the results of CVR effective May 5, 2012.

[2] Our second quarter 2012 results were restated due to (i) a purchase price allocation adjustment of $23 million related to an inventory step-up made during the fourth quarter 2012 related to the CVR acquisition and the common control impact of Mr. Icahn's transfer of his interest in IEP Energy to us made in the third quarter of 2012 and (ii) an adjustment of $21 million for a derivative related to a certain investment held by the Holding Company.

[3] Excludes amounts related to the amortization of debt discounts and premiums included in interest expense in the amounts of $27 million, $37 million and $36 million for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

[4] We consolidated CVR effective May 4, 2012.