Condensed Statement of Operations By Reporting Segment (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015 reporting_segments		Mar. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reporting segments	9
Revenues:
Net sales	$ 3,565,000,000		$ 4,666,000,000
Other revenues from operations	329,000,000		261,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	591,000,000		(31,000,000)
Interest and dividend income	53,000,000		59,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	(27,000,000)		35,000,000
Total Revenues	4,511,000,000		4,990,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	3,125,000,000		4,142,000,000
Other expenses from operations	155,000,000		129,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	477,000,000		360,000,000
Restructuring	12,000,000		8,000,000
Impairment	1,000,000		1,000,000
Interest expense	270,000,000		170,000,000
Total Expenses	4,040,000,000		4,810,000,000
Income before income tax expense	471,000,000		180,000,000
Income tax expense	(49,000,000)		(103,000,000)
Net income	422,000,000		77,000,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(261,000,000)		(106,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	161,000,000		(29,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	363,000,000		282,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	204,000,000	[1]	187,000,000	[1]
Amortization included in interest expense	3,000,000		10,000,000
Investment Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0
Other revenues from operations	0		0
Net gain from investment activities	570,000,000		(10,000,000)
Interest and dividend income	49,000,000		55,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	0		1,000,000
Total Revenues	619,000,000		46,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0
Other expenses from operations	0		0
Selling, general and administrative	100,000,000		22,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	123,000,000		39,000,000
Total Expenses	223,000,000		61,000,000
Income before income tax expense	396,000,000		(15,000,000)
Income tax expense	0		0
Net income	396,000,000		(15,000,000)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(212,000,000)		20,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	184,000,000		5,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0	[1]	0	[1]
Automotive Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	1,835,000,000		1,779,000,000
Other revenues from operations	0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0
Interest and dividend income	1,000,000		1,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	9,000,000		9,000,000
Total Revenues	1,845,000,000		1,789,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	1,584,000,000		1,506,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0
Selling, general and administrative	217,000,000		193,000,000
Restructuring	12,000,000		8,000,000
Impairment	1,000,000		1,000,000
Interest expense	36,000,000		25,000,000
Total Expenses	1,850,000,000		1,733,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(5,000,000)		56,000,000
Income tax expense	15,000,000		(16,000,000)
Net income	(20,000,000)		40,000,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	2,000,000		(9,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(18,000,000)		31,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	108,000,000		96,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	83,000,000	[1]	80,000,000	[1]
Energy Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	1,389,000,000		2,447,000,000
Other revenues from operations	0		0
Net gain from investment activities	35,000,000		0
Interest and dividend income	1,000,000		0
Other (loss) income, net	(51,000,000)		109,000,000
Total Revenues	1,374,000,000		2,556,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	1,237,000,000		2,247,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0
Selling, general and administrative	32,000,000		32,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	12,000,000		10,000,000
Total Expenses	1,281,000,000		2,289,000,000
Income before income tax expense	93,000,000		267,000,000
Income tax expense	18,000,000		(63,000,000)
Net income	75,000,000		204,000,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(32,000,000)		(94,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	43,000,000		110,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	46,000,000		62,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	58,000,000	[1]	53,000,000	[1]
Metals Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	106,000,000		189,000,000
Other revenues from operations	0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0
Other (loss) income, net	0		1,000,000
Total Revenues	106,000,000		190,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	116,000,000		192,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0
Selling, general and administrative	5,000,000		6,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	0		0
Total Expenses	121,000,000		198,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(15,000,000)		(8,000,000)
Income tax expense	(6,000,000)		3,000,000
Net income	(9,000,000)		(5,000,000)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(9,000,000)		(5,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	15,000,000		4,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	7,000,000	[1]	6,000,000	[1]
Railcar Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	103,000,000		118,000,000
Other revenues from operations	117,000,000		93,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	0		0
Interest and dividend income	1,000,000		1,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	0		(5,000,000)
Total Revenues	221,000,000		207,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	82,000,000		93,000,000
Other expenses from operations	48,000,000		43,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	11,000,000		12,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	20,000,000		12,000,000
Total Expenses	161,000,000		160,000,000
Income before income tax expense	60,000,000		47,000,000
Income tax expense	16,000,000		(11,000,000)
Net income	44,000,000		36,000,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(17,000,000)		(15,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	27,000,000		21,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	162,000,000		102,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	29,000,000	[1]	26,000,000	[1]
Gaming Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0
Other revenues from operations	193,000,000		149,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		1,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	(1,000,000)		37,000,000
Total Revenues	192,000,000		187,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0
Other expenses from operations	96,000,000		74,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	82,000,000		67,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	3,000,000		3,000,000
Total Expenses	181,000,000		144,000,000
Income before income tax expense	11,000,000		43,000,000
Income tax expense	4,000,000		(10,000,000)
Net income	7,000,000		33,000,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(2,000,000)		(10,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	5,000,000		23,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	26,000,000		12,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	15,000,000	[1]	9,000,000	[1]
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	85,000,000		88,000,000
Other revenues from operations	0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0
Other (loss) income, net	(3,000,000)		(15,000,000)
Total Revenues	82,000,000		73,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	66,000,000		66,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0
Selling, general and administrative	12,000,000		11,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	3,000,000		5,000,000
Total Expenses	81,000,000		82,000,000
Income before income tax expense	1,000,000		(9,000,000)
Income tax expense	1,000,000		3,000,000
Net income	0		(6,000,000)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		2,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	0		(4,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	4,000,000		5,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	5,000,000	[1]	5,000,000	[1]
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		3,000,000
Other revenues from operations	19,000,000		19,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0
Other (loss) income, net	19,000,000		2,000,000
Total Revenues	38,000,000		24,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		1,000,000
Other expenses from operations	11,000,000		12,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	3,000,000		3,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	1,000,000		1,000,000
Total Expenses	15,000,000		17,000,000
Income before income tax expense	23,000,000		7,000,000
Income tax expense	0		0
Net income	23,000,000		7,000,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	23,000,000		7,000,000
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	5,000,000	[1]	6,000,000	[1]
Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	47,000,000		42,000,000
Other revenues from operations	0		0
Net gain from investment activities	0		0
Interest and dividend income	0		0
Other (loss) income, net	0		1,000,000
Total Revenues	47,000,000		43,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	40,000,000		37,000,000
Other expenses from operations	0		0
Selling, general and administrative	8,000,000		7,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	0		0
Total Expenses	48,000,000		44,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Income tax expense	0		0
Net income	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	2,000,000		1,000,000
Depreciation and amortization	2,000,000	[1]	2,000,000	[1]
Holding Company [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	0		0
Other revenues from operations	0		0
Net gain from investment activities	(14,000,000)		(21,000,000)
Interest and dividend income	1,000,000		1,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	0		(105,000,000)
Total Revenues	(13,000,000)		(125,000,000)
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	0		0
Other expenses from operations	0		0
Selling, general and administrative	7,000,000		7,000,000
Restructuring	0		0
Impairment	0		0
Interest expense	72,000,000		75,000,000
Total Expenses	79,000,000		82,000,000
Income before income tax expense	(92,000,000)		(207,000,000)
Income tax expense	1,000,000		(9,000,000)
Net income	(93,000,000)		(216,000,000)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(93,000,000)		(216,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Capital expenditures	0		0
Depreciation and amortization	0	[1]	0	[1]
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Revenues:
Net sales	3,565,000,000		4,666,000,000
Other revenues from operations	329,000,000		261,000,000
Net gain from investment activities	591,000,000		(31,000,000)
Interest and dividend income	53,000,000		59,000,000
Other (loss) income, net	(27,000,000)		35,000,000
Total Revenues	4,511,000,000		4,990,000,000
Expenses:
Cost of goods sold	3,125,000,000		4,142,000,000
Other expenses from operations	155,000,000		129,000,000
Selling, general and administrative	477,000,000		360,000,000
Restructuring	12,000,000		8,000,000
Impairment	1,000,000		1,000,000
Interest expense	270,000,000		170,000,000
Total Expenses	4,040,000,000		4,810,000,000
Income before income tax expense	471,000,000		180,000,000
Income tax expense	(49,000,000)		(103,000,000)
Net income	422,000,000		77,000,000
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests	(261,000,000)		(106,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	161,000,000		(29,000,000)
Supplemental information:
Amortization included in interest expense	3,000,000		10,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Investment Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	123,000,000		39,000,000
Net income	396,000,000		(15,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	184,000,000		5,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	36,000,000		25,000,000
Net income	(20,000,000)		40,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(18,000,000)		31,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	12,000,000		10,000,000
Net income	75,000,000		204,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	43,000,000		110,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	0		0
Net income	(9,000,000)		(5,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(9,000,000)		(5,000,000)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	20,000,000		12,000,000
Net income	44,000,000		36,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	27,000,000		21,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	3,000,000		3,000,000
Net income	7,000,000		33,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	5,000,000		23,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	3,000,000		5,000,000
Net income	0		(6,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	0		(4,000,000)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	1,000,000		1,000,000
Net income	23,000,000		7,000,000
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	23,000,000		7,000,000
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	0		0
Net income	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(1,000,000)		(1,000,000)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] | Holding Company [Member]
Expenses:
Interest expense	72,000,000		75,000,000
Net income	(93,000,000)		(216,000,000)
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	$ (93,000,000)		$ (216,000,000)

[1] Excludes amounts related to the amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts and premiums included in interest expense in the amounts of $3 million and $10 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.