Segment Reporting, Income Statements (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014 reporting_segments		Sep. 30, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments					9
Revenues:
Net sales	$ 4,557,000,000		$ 4,181,000,000		$ 14,090,000,000		$ 13,252,000,000
Other revenues from operations	350,000,000		259,000,000		934,000,000		746,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	(592,000,000)		1,201,000,000		509,000,000		1,551,000,000
Interest and dividend income	62,000,000		46,000,000		165,000,000		126,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	45,000,000		84,000,000		93,000,000		135,000,000
Total Revenues	4,422,000,000		5,771,000,000		15,791,000,000		15,810,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	4,218,000,000		3,825,000,000		12,687,000,000		11,605,000,000
Other expenses from operations	166,000,000		134,000,000		458,000,000		382,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	431,000,000		371,000,000		1,247,000,000		1,059,000,000
Restructuring	23,000,000		5,000,000		61,000,000		22,000,000
Impairment	4,000,000		2,000,000		6,000,000		7,000,000
Interest expense	226,000,000		141,000,000		593,000,000		422,000,000
Total Expenses	5,068,000,000		4,478,000,000		15,052,000,000		13,497,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(646,000,000)		1,293,000,000		739,000,000		2,313,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	19,000,000		(57,000,000)		(166,000,000)		(274,000,000)
Net (loss) income	(627,000,000)		1,236,000,000		573,000,000		2,039,000,000
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	272,000,000		(764,000,000)		(468,000,000)		(1,236,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(355,000,000)		472,000,000		105,000,000		803,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	399,000,000		278,000,000		986,000,000		790,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	202,000,000	[1]	181,000,000	[1]	584,000,000	[1]	524,000,000	[1]
Amortization included in interest expense	4,000,000		8,000,000		17,000,000		25,000,000
Investment Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0		0		0
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	(501,000,000)		1,229,000,000		648,000,000		1,590,000,000
Interest and dividend income	58,000,000		42,000,000		154,000,000		114,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	(1,000,000)		0		1,000,000		2,000,000
Total Revenues	(444,000,000)		1,271,000,000		803,000,000		1,706,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0		0		0
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	37,000,000		44,000,000		147,000,000		84,000,000
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	87,000,000		4,000,000		189,000,000		6,000,000
Total Expenses	124,000,000		48,000,000		336,000,000		90,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(568,000,000)		1,223,000,000		467,000,000		1,616,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income	(568,000,000)		1,223,000,000		467,000,000		1,616,000,000
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	298,000,000		(694,000,000)		(231,000,000)		(926,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(270,000,000)		529,000,000		236,000,000		690,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		0		0
Automotive Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	1,871,000,000		1,713,000,000		5,522,000,000		5,212,000,000
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	1,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000		2,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	18,000,000		(4,000,000)		(1,000,000)		(37,000,000)
Total Revenues	1,890,000,000		1,710,000,000		5,524,000,000		5,177,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	1,609,000,000		1,459,000,000		4,689,000,000		4,430,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	222,000,000		190,000,000		622,000,000		564,000,000
Restructuring	25,000,000		4,000,000		63,000,000		20,000,000
Impairment	1,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000		3,000,000
Interest expense	35,000,000		28,000,000		92,000,000		86,000,000
Total Expenses	1,892,000,000		1,682,000,000		5,469,000,000		5,103,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(2,000,000)		28,000,000		55,000,000		74,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	(1,000,000)		(4,000,000)		(27,000,000)		(28,000,000)
Net (loss) income	(1,000,000)		24,000,000		28,000,000		46,000,000
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	3,000,000		(6,000,000)		(7,000,000)		(15,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2,000,000		18,000,000		21,000,000		31,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	109,000,000		84,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	88,000,000		75,000,000		251,000,000		219,000,000
Energy Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	2,280,000,000		1,977,000,000		7,268,000,000		6,550,000,000
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	2,000,000		0		(1,000,000)		0
Interest and dividend income	1,000,000		0		2,000,000		1,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	26,000,000		79,000,000		171,000,000		184,000,000
Total Revenues	2,309,000,000		2,056,000,000		7,440,000,000		6,735,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	2,251,000,000		1,919,000,000		6,856,000,000		5,825,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	39,000,000		34,000,000		106,000,000		102,000,000
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	10,000,000		12,000,000		28,000,000		39,000,000
Total Expenses	2,300,000,000		1,965,000,000		6,990,000,000		5,966,000,000
Income before income tax expense	9,000,000		91,000,000		450,000,000		769,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	(2,000,000)		(23,000,000)		(100,000,000)		(217,000,000)
Net (loss) income	11,000,000		68,000,000		350,000,000		552,000,000
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	(8,000,000)		(35,000,000)		(165,000,000)		(212,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	3,000,000		33,000,000		185,000,000		340,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	56,000,000		69,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	54,000,000		53,000,000		162,000,000		154,000,000
Metals Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	186,000,000		243,000,000		563,000,000		737,000,000
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	1,000,000		0		1,000,000		0
Total Revenues	187,000,000		243,000,000		564,000,000		737,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	188,000,000		246,000,000		571,000,000		749,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	5,000,000		6,000,000		17,000,000		20,000,000
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Total Expenses	193,000,000		252,000,000		588,000,000		769,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(6,000,000)		(9,000,000)		(24,000,000)		(32,000,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(3,000,000)		4,000,000		11,000,000		14,000,000
Net (loss) income	(3,000,000)		(5,000,000)		(13,000,000)		(18,000,000)
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(3,000,000)		(5,000,000)		(13,000,000)		(18,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	17,000,000		3,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	7,000,000		8,000,000		19,000,000		20,000,000
Railcar Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	74,000,000		108,000,000		314,000,000		334,000,000
Other revenues from operations	108,000,000		83,000,000		302,000,000		238,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		2,000,000
Interest and dividend income	1,000,000		3,000,000		2,000,000		8,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	(1,000,000)		2,000,000		(4,000,000)		3,000,000
Total Revenues	182,000,000		196,000,000		614,000,000		585,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	55,000,000		90,000,000		242,000,000		266,000,000
Other expenses from operations	44,000,000		41,000,000		131,000,000		120,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	11,000,000		10,000,000		33,000,000		31,000,000
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	16,000,000		12,000,000		43,000,000		37,000,000
Total Expenses	126,000,000		153,000,000		449,000,000		454,000,000
Income before income tax expense	56,000,000		43,000,000		165,000,000		131,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	12,000,000		(14,000,000)		(38,000,000)		(40,000,000)
Net (loss) income	44,000,000		29,000,000		127,000,000		91,000,000
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	(15,000,000)		(25,000,000)		(47,000,000)		(76,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	29,000,000		4,000,000		80,000,000		15,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	188,000,000		101,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	27,000,000		24,000,000		78,000,000		68,000,000
Gaming Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0		0		0
Other revenues from operations	220,000,000		153,000,000		571,000,000		445,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	1,000,000		0		2,000,000		0
Other (loss) income, net	(1,000,000)		0		37,000,000		0
Total Revenues	220,000,000		153,000,000		610,000,000		445,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0		0		0
Other expenses from operations	108,000,000		79,000,000		288,000,000		224,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	90,000,000		61,000,000		242,000,000		178,000,000
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		2,000,000
Interest expense	4,000,000		4,000,000		10,000,000		11,000,000
Total Expenses	202,000,000		144,000,000		540,000,000		415,000,000
Income before income tax expense	18,000,000		9,000,000		70,000,000		30,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	5,000,000		(1,000,000)		(18,000,000)		(2,000,000)
Net (loss) income	13,000,000		8,000,000		52,000,000		28,000,000
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	(5,000,000)		(3,000,000)		(17,000,000)		(10,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	8,000,000		5,000,000		35,000,000		18,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	23,000,000		5,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	14,000,000		9,000,000		36,000,000		25,000,000
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	95,000,000		95,000,000		276,000,000		276,000,000
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	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)		(16,000,000)		(25,000,000)
Total Revenues	94,000,000		94,000,000		260,000,000		251,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	73,000,000		74,000,000		208,000,000		211,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	13,000,000		12,000,000		35,000,000		35,000,000
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	3,000,000		5,000,000		11,000,000		16,000,000
Total Expenses	89,000,000		91,000,000		254,000,000		262,000,000
Income before income tax expense	5,000,000		3,000,000		6,000,000		(11,000,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	3,000,000		1,000,000		(4,000,000)		1,000,000
Net (loss) income	2,000,000		4,000,000		2,000,000		(10,000,000)
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)		3,000,000
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1,000,000		3,000,000		1,000,000		(7,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures			10,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,000,000		4,000,000		16,000,000		15,000,000
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	5,000,000		0		13,000,000		2,000,000
Other revenues from operations	22,000,000		23,000,000		61,000,000		63,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	0		0		0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0		0		0
Other (loss) income, net	0		0		3,000,000		0
Total Revenues	27,000,000		23,000,000		77,000,000		65,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	3,000,000		(1,000,000)		7,000,000		0
Other expenses from operations	14,000,000		14,000,000		39,000,000		38,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	4,000,000		4,000,000		10,000,000		10,000,000
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	3,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000		2,000,000
Interest expense	0		1,000,000		2,000,000		3,000,000
Total Expenses	24,000,000		19,000,000		61,000,000		53,000,000
Income before income tax expense	3,000,000		4,000,000		16,000,000		12,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income	3,000,000		4,000,000		16,000,000		12,000,000
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	3,000,000		4,000,000		16,000,000		12,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		1,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	6,000,000		6,000,000		17,000,000		17,000,000
Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	46,000,000		45,000,000		134,000,000		141,000,000
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	2,000,000		2,000,000		3,000,000		3,000,000
Total Revenues	48,000,000		47,000,000		137,000,000		144,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	39,000,000		38,000,000		114,000,000		124,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	7,000,000		7,000,000		22,000,000		23,000,000
Restructuring	(2,000,000)		1,000,000		(2,000,000)		2,000,000
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Total Expenses	44,000,000		46,000,000		134,000,000		149,000,000
Income before income tax expense	4,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000		(5,000,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income	4,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000		(5,000,000)
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	4,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000		(5,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		5,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	1,000,000		2,000,000		5,000,000		6,000,000
Holding Company [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0		0		0
Other revenues from operations	0		0		0		0
Net gain from investment activities	(93,000,000)		(28,000,000)		(138,000,000)		(41,000,000)
Interest and dividend income	0		0		2,000,000		1,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	2,000,000		6,000,000		(102,000,000)		5,000,000
Total Revenues	(91,000,000)		(22,000,000)		(238,000,000)		(35,000,000)
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0		0		0
Other expenses from operations	0		0		0		0
Selling, general and administrative	3,000,000		3,000,000		13,000,000		12,000,000
Restructuring	0		0		0		0
Impairment	0		0		0		0
Interest expense	71,000,000		75,000,000		218,000,000		224,000,000
Total Expenses	74,000,000		78,000,000		231,000,000		236,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(165,000,000)		(100,000,000)		(469,000,000)		(271,000,000)
Income tax benefit (expense)	(33,000,000)		(20,000,000)		10,000,000		(2,000,000)
Net (loss) income	(132,000,000)		(120,000,000)		(459,000,000)		(273,000,000)
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(132,000,000)		(120,000,000)		(459,000,000)		(273,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0		0		0		0
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	4,557,000,000		4,181,000,000		14,090,000,000		13,252,000,000
Other revenues from operations	350,000,000		259,000,000		934,000,000		746,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	(592,000,000)		1,201,000,000		509,000,000		1,551,000,000
Interest and dividend income	62,000,000		46,000,000		165,000,000		126,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	45,000,000		84,000,000		93,000,000		135,000,000
Total Revenues	4,422,000,000		5,771,000,000		15,791,000,000		15,810,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	4,218,000,000		3,825,000,000		12,687,000,000		11,605,000,000
Other expenses from operations	166,000,000		134,000,000		458,000,000		382,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	431,000,000		371,000,000		1,247,000,000		1,059,000,000
Restructuring	23,000,000		5,000,000		61,000,000		22,000,000
Impairment	4,000,000		2,000,000		6,000,000		7,000,000
Interest expense	226,000,000		141,000,000		592,000,000		422,000,000
Total Expenses	5,068,000,000		4,478,000,000		15,051,000,000		13,497,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(646,000,000)		1,293,000,000		740,000,000		2,313,000,000
Income tax benefit (expense)	19,000,000		(57,000,000)		(166,000,000)		(274,000,000)
Net (loss) income	(627,000,000)		1,236,000,000		574,000,000		2,039,000,000
Less: net loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests	272,000,000		(764,000,000)		(468,000,000)		(1,236,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(355,000,000)		472,000,000		106,000,000		803,000,000
Supplemental information:
Amortization included in interest expense	3,000,000		8,000,000		16,000,000		25,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Investment Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	87,000,000		4,000,000		189,000,000		6,000,000
Net (loss) income	(568,000,000)		1,223,000,000		467,000,000		1,616,000,000
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(270,000,000)		529,000,000		236,000,000		690,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	35,000,000		28,000,000		92,000,000		86,000,000
Net (loss) income	(1,000,000)		24,000,000		28,000,000		46,000,000
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2,000,000		18,000,000		21,000,000		31,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	10,000,000		12,000,000		28,000,000		39,000,000
Net (loss) income	11,000,000		68,000,000		350,000,000		552,000,000
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	3,000,000		33,000,000		185,000,000		340,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income	(3,000,000)		(5,000,000)		(13,000,000)		(18,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(3,000,000)		(5,000,000)		(13,000,000)		(18,000,000)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	16,000,000		12,000,000		43,000,000		37,000,000
Net (loss) income	44,000,000		29,000,000		127,000,000		91,000,000
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	29,000,000		4,000,000		80,000,000		15,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	4,000,000		4,000,000		10,000,000		11,000,000
Net (loss) income	13,000,000		8,000,000		52,000,000		28,000,000
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	8,000,000		5,000,000		35,000,000		18,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	3,000,000		5,000,000		11,000,000		16,000,000
Net (loss) income	2,000,000		4,000,000		2,000,000		(10,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1,000,000		3,000,000		1,000,000		(7,000,000)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	0		1,000,000		2,000,000		3,000,000
Net (loss) income	3,000,000		4,000,000		16,000,000		12,000,000
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	3,000,000		4,000,000		16,000,000		12,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	0		0		0		0
Net (loss) income	4,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000		(5,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	4,000,000		1,000,000		3,000,000		(5,000,000)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Holding Company [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	71,000,000		75,000,000		217,000,000		224,000,000
Net (loss) income	(132,000,000)		(120,000,000)		(458,000,000)		(273,000,000)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	$ (132,000,000)		$ (120,000,000)		$ (458,000,000)		$ (273,000,000)

[1] Excludes amounts related to the amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts and premiums included in interest expense in the amounts of $4 million and $8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $17 million and $25 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.