Amount of backstop of rights offering

No definition available.

Name:	iep_Amountofbackstopofrightsoffering
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business combination, commitment to purchase, price per share

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_Businesscombinationcommitmenttopurchasepricepershare
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

business combinations, recognized identifiable assets, net tangible assets

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_Businesscombinationsrecognizedidentifiableassetsnettangibleassets
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_DisclosureOnGeographicAreasRevenueFromExternalCustomersAttributedToForeignCountriesPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Fair value of equity investment in entity prior to acquisition of controlling interest

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_FairvalueofequityinvestmentinFerrousResourcespriortoacquisitionofcontrollinginterest
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nnumber of Manufacturing Facilities

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_NnumberOfManufacturingFacilities
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Distribution Centers

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_NumberOfDistributionCenters
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of Units of Residential Housing in Future Development

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	iep_NumberOfUnitsOfResidentialHousingInFutureDevelopment
Namespace Prefix:	iep_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

In a business combination achieved in stages, this element represents the amount of loss recognized by the entity as a result of remeasuring to fair value the equity interest in the acquiree it held before the business combination.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationStepAcquisitionEquityInterestInAcquireeRemeasurementLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of real estate properties owned as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NumberOfRealEstateProperties
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireBusinessesGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of or advances to an entity that is related to it but not strictly controlled (for example, an unconsolidated subsidiary, affiliate, and joint venture or equity method investment) or the acquisition of an additional interest in a subsidiary (controlled entity).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 13

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireInterestInSubsidiariesAndAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amount, as of the date of the latest financial statement presented, of all assets that are pledged as collateral for the payment of the related debt obligation primarily arising from secured borrowings, repurchase agreements or other current or potential obligations, where the secured party does not have the right by contract or custom to sell or re-pledge the collateral and therefore are not reclassified and separately reported in the statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1A

-Subparagraph (b)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720971&loc=SL6224234-111729

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_PledgedAssetsNotSeparatelyReportedOnStatementOfFinancialPosition
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of units or percentage investment held in the subsidiary by the limited liability company or limited partnership.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsidiaryOfLimitedLiabilityCompanyOrLimitedPartnershipOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=iep_RealEstateSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=iep_FerrousResourcesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=iep_AriMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=iep_ViskaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=iep_ArlMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=iep_RailcarSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	iep_LocationOfOperationsStateOrCountryAxis=stpr_MA
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	iep_LocationOfOperationsStateOrCountryAxis=stpr_FL
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=iep_FerrousResourcesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis=iep_MiningSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Operating Units Other Segments (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 08, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 25, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares	Oct. 02, 2013	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) real_estate_property_units real_estate_properties distribution_centers manufacturing_facilities	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fair value of investment in Ferrous Resources prior to acquisition of controlling interest				$ 36	$ 0
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate commercial rental properties \| real_estate_properties				27
Pledged assets				$ 28		$ 31
Ferrous Resources [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary	14.10%			77.20%
Payments to subsidiary to acquire additional interest in subsidiary, rights offering				$ 29
ARI [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary				55.60%
Viskase [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary				73.30%
Nnumber of Manufacturing Facilities \| manufacturing_facilities				9
Number of Distribution Centers \| distribution_centers				6
Disclosure on Geographic Areas, Revenue from External Customers Attributed to Foreign Countries, Percentage				69.00%
ARL [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary				75.00%
ARL [Member] \| Railcar Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Percentage of equity ownership in subsidiary			75.00%
MASSACHUSETTS \| Real Estate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of units of residential housing in future development \| real_estate_property_units				244
FLORIDA \| Real Estate Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of units of residential housing in future development \| real_estate_property_units				1,128
Ferrous Resources [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Fair value of investment in Ferrous Resources prior to acquisition of controlling interest	$ 36
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Loss	4
Gross payments to acquire business	180
business combinations, recognized identifiable assets, net tangible assets	$ 362
Ferrous Resources [Member] \| Mining Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business combination, commitment to purchase, price per share \| $ / shares		$ 0.36
Amount of backstop of rights offering		$ 40