Segment Reporting, Income Statements (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013 reporting_segments		Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments					9
Revenues:
Net sales	$ 4,181		$ 4,519		$ 13,252		$ 10,625
Other revenues from operations	213		215		605		611
Net gain from investment activities	1,201		(81)		1,551		276
Interest and dividend income	44		21		120		63
Other (loss) income, net	82		(171)		130		(162)
Total Revenues	5,721		4,503		15,658		11,413
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	3,825		3,702		11,605		9,026
Other expenses from operations	113		111		318		325
Selling, general and administrative	368		285		1,050		930
Restructuring	5		5		22		21
Impairment	2		53		7		87
Interest expense	131		138		391		384
Total Expenses	4,444		4,294		13,393		10,773
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	1,277		209		2,265		640
Income tax (expense) benefit	(57)		(110)		(274)		21
Net income	1,220		99		1,991		661
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(748)		(15)		(1,188)		(271)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	472		84		803		390
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(276)		(188)		(785)		(617)
Depreciation and amortization	165	[1]	156	[1]	479	[1]	389	[1]
Amortization included in interest expense	8		2		24		22
Investment Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0		0		0
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	1,229		(81)		1,590		249
Interest and dividend income	42		19		114		56
Other (loss) income, net	0		0		2		(1)
Total Revenues	1,271		(62)		1,706		304
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0		0		0
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	44		7		84		18
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	4		0		6		2
Total Expenses	48		7		90		20
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	1,223		(69)		1,616		284
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Net income	1,223		(69)		1,616		284
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(694)		42		(926)		(163)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	529		(27)		690		121
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Automotive Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	1,713		1,602		5,212		5,070
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	1		2		2		4
Other (loss) income, net	(4)		(4)		(37)		9
Total Revenues	1,710		1,600		5,177		5,083
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	1,459		1,390		4,430		4,327
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	190		137		564		524
Restructuring	4		5		20		19
Impairment	1		50		3		79
Interest expense	28		35		86		106
Total Expenses	1,682		1,617		5,103		5,055
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	28		(17)		74		28
Income tax (expense) benefit	4		7		28		27
Net income	24		(10)		46		55
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(6)		2		(15)		(17)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	18		(8)		31		38
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(84)		(73)		(270)		(296)
Depreciation and amortization	75		72	[1]	219	[1]	212	[1]
Energy Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	1,977		2,410	[2]	6,550		3,822	[2]
Other revenues from operations	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Net gain from investment activities	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Interest and dividend income	0		0	[2]	1		0	[2]
Other (loss) income, net	79		(169)	[2]	184		(171)	[2]
Total Revenues	2,056		2,241	[2]	6,735		3,651	[2]
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	1,919		1,857	[2]	5,825		3,118	[2]
Other expenses from operations	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Selling, general and administrative	34		35	[2]	102		70	[2]
Restructuring	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Impairment	0		0	[2]	0		0	[2]
Interest expense	12		14	[2]	39		24	[2]
Total Expenses	1,965		1,906	[2]	5,966		3,212	[2]
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	91		335	[2]	769		439	[2]
Income tax (expense) benefit	23		(123)	[2]	217		(158)	[2]
Net income	68		212	[2]	552		281	[2]
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(35)		(46)	[2]	(212)		(62)	[2]
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	33		166	[2]	340		219	[2]
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(69)		40	[2]	(184)		71	[2]
Depreciation and amortization	53		49	[1],[2]	154	[1]
Metals Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0		737		871
Other revenues from operations	153		171		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		1		0		0
Other (loss) income, net	0		5		0		1
Total Revenues	243		236		737		872
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0		749		881
Other expenses from operations	79		83		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	61		66		20		21
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	4		4		0		0
Total Expenses	252		246		769		902
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	(9)		(10)		(32)		(30)
Income tax (expense) benefit	1		(2)		(14)		9
Net income	(5)		(5)		(18)		(21)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(3)		(7)		0		0
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(5)		(5)		(18)		(21)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(5)		(5)		(11)		(14)
Depreciation and amortization	8		7	[1]	20	[1]	19	[1]
Railcar Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	108		131		334		430
Other revenues from operations	37		21		97		58
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		2		0
Interest and dividend income	1		0		2		2
Other (loss) income, net	0		(2)		(2)		(2)
Total Revenues	146		150		433		488
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	90		103		266		347
Other expenses from operations	20		15		56		43
Selling, general and administrative	7		6		22		20
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	2		5		6		15
Total Expenses	119		129		350		425
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	27		21		83		63
Income tax (expense) benefit	14		(9)		40		(26)
Net income	13		12		43		37
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(9)		(6)		(28)		(17)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	4		6		15		20
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(99)		(49)		(255)		(168)
Depreciation and amortization	8		7	[1]	23	[1]	18	[1]
Gaming Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	95		86		0		0
Other revenues from operations	0		0		445		490
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0		0		1
Other (loss) income, net	(1)		0		0		(3)
Total Revenues	153		177		445		488
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	74		66		0		0
Other expenses from operations	0		0		224		245
Selling, general and administrative	12		11		178		192
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		2		2
Interest expense	5		5		11		10
Total Expenses	144		153		415		449
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	9		24		30		39
Income tax (expense) benefit	(1)		(2)		2		(3)
Net income	8		22		28		36
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(1)		0		(10)		(11)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	5		15		18		25
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(10)		(9)		(45)		(32)
Depreciation and amortization	9		8	[1]	25	[1]	24	[1]
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	243		236		276		255
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0		0		0
Other (loss) income, net	0		0		(25)		(2)
Total Revenues	94		86		251		253
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	246		239		211		196
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	6		7		35		35
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	0		0		16		15
Total Expenses	91		82		262		246
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	3		4		(11)		7
Income tax (expense) benefit	(4)		5		(1)		(3)
Net income	4		2		(10)		4
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		3		(1)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	3		2		(7)		3
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(3)		(12)		(12)		(35)
Depreciation and amortization	4		5	[1]	15	[1]	14	[1]
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		1		2		4
Other revenues from operations	23		23		63		63
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0		0		0
Other (loss) income, net	0		0		0		2
Total Revenues	23		24		65		69
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	(1)		0		0		1
Other expenses from operations	14		13		38		37
Selling, general and administrative	4		3		10		10
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	1		0		2		0
Interest expense	1		2		3		4
Total Expenses	19		18		53		52
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	4		6		12		17
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Net income	4		6		12		17
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	4		6		12		17
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(1)		0		(2)		(1)
Depreciation and amortization	6		6	[1]	17	[1]	17	[1]
Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	45		53		141		173
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0		0		0
Other (loss) income, net	2		1		3		3
Total Revenues	47		54		144		176
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	38		47		124		156
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	7		9		23		28
Restructuring	1		0		2		2
Impairment	0		3		0		6
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Total Expenses	46		59		149		192
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	1		(5)		(5)		(16)
Income tax (expense) benefit	0		0		0		0
Net income	1		(5)		(5)		(16)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1		(5)		(5)		(16)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	(5)		0		(6)		0
Depreciation and amortization	2		2	[1]	6	[1]	6	[1]
Holding Company [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0		0		0
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	(28)		0		(41)		27
Interest and dividend income	0		(1)		1		0
Other (loss) income, net	6		(2)		5		2
Total Revenues	(22)		(3)		(35)		29
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0		0		0
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	3		4		12		12
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	75		73		224		208
Total Expenses	78		77		236		220
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	(100)		(80)		(271)		(191)
Income tax (expense) benefit	20		14		2		175
Net income	(120)		(66)		(273)		(16)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(120)		(66)		(273)		(16)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		0		0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0	[1]	0	[1]	0	[1]
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	4,181		4,519		13,252		10,625
Other revenues from operations	213		215		605		611
Net gain from investment activities	1,201		(81)		1,551		276
Interest and dividend income	44		21		120		63
Other (loss) income, net	82		(171)		130		(162)
Total Revenues	5,721		4,503		15,658		11,413
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	3,825		3,702		11,605		9,026
Other expenses from operations	113		111		318		325
Selling, general and administrative	368		285		1,050		930
Restructuring	5		5		22		21
Impairment	2		53		7		87
Interest expense	131		138		391		384
Total Expenses	4,444		4,294		13,393		10,773
Income before income tax benefit (expense)	1,277		209		2,265		640
Income tax (expense) benefit	(57)		(110)		(274)		21
Net income	1,220		99		1,991		661
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(748)		(15)		(1,188)		(271)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	472		84		803		390
Supplemental information:
Amortization included in interest expense	8		2		24		22
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Investment Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	4		0		6		2
Net income	1,223		(69)		1,616		284
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	529		(27)		690		121
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	28		35		86		106
Net income	24		(10)		46		55
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	18		(8)		31		38
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	12		14		39		24
Net income	68		212		552		281
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	33		166		340		219
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Net income	(5)		(5)		(18)		(21)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(5)		(5)		(18)		(21)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	2		5		6		15
Net income	13		12		43		37
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	4		6		15		20
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	4		4		11		10
Net income	8		22		28		36
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	5		15		18		25
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	5		5		16		15
Net income	4		2		(10)		4
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	3		2		(7)		3
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	1		2		3		4
Net income	4		6		12		17
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	4		6		12		17
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Net income	1		(5)		(5)		(16)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1		(5)		(5)		(16)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Holding Company [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	75		73		224		208
Net income	(120)		(66)		(273)		(16)
Net income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	$ (120)		$ (66)		$ (273)		$ (16)

[1] Excludes amounts related to the amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts and premiums included in interest expense in the amounts of $8 million and $2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $24 million and $22 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

[2] Energy segment results are for the period May 5, 2012 through September 30, 2012.