Debt Table (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 8,245	$ 8,548
Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,849	2,805
Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	677	926
Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	170	171
Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	198	275
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	215	215
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	53	71
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	2,474	2,476
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	198	275
Debt facilities [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,739	2,738
Debt facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	500	749
Secured credit facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	125	125
Secured credit facilities [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	170	171
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	51	70
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	168	124
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	8,239	8,540
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	2,471
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	1,047
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	198	275
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Debt facilities [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,739	2,738
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Debt facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	500	749
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Secured credit facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	125	125
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Secured credit facilities [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	170	171
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	51	70
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 168	$ 124