Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ 23	$ 573
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net loss (gain) from securities transactions	1,249	(1,005)
Purchases of securities	(3,753)	(6,121)
Proceeds from sales of securities	3,404	5,065
Purchases to cover securities sold, not yet purchased	(438)	(137)
Proceeds from securities sold, not yet purchased	1,261	328
Changes in receivables and payables relating to securities transactions	(598)	1,485
Loss on extinguishment of debt	2	162
Equity earnings from non-consolidated affiliates	(43)	(39)
Depreciation and amortization	641	601
Deferred taxes	58	18
Other, net	(20)	66
Changes in cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	3	(912)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	(1,279)	(703)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	510	(619)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,067)	(986)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(855)	(558)
Proceeds from sale of investments	68	0
Net proceeds from the sale and disposition of assets	80	0
Purchases of investments	(107)	(78)
Other, net	22	37
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,859)	(1,585)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution by non-controlling interests	246	500
Partnership distributions	(87)	(96)
Proceeds from offering of subsidiary equity	31	188
Distributions to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries	(190)	(595)
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes	0	4,991
Proceeds from other borrowings	1,284	4,689
Repayment of senior unsecured notes	0	(3,625)
Repayments of other borrowings	(737)	(3,997)
Purchase of treasury stock by subsidiary	(49)	0
Other, net	(20)	(42)
Net cash provided by financing activities	478	2,013
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	9
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(871)	(182)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,912	3,262
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,041	3,080
Supplemental information:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	536	518
Net cash payments for income taxes	13	81
Fair value of investment in Ferrous Resources prior to acquisition of controlling interest	36	0
Construction in progress additions included in accounts payable	43	25
Changes in accounts payable related to construction in progress additions	15	(13)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	24	574
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net loss (gain) from securities transactions	1,249	(1,005)
Purchases of securities	(3,753)	(6,121)
Proceeds from sales of securities	3,404	5,065
Purchases to cover securities sold, not yet purchased	(438)	(137)
Proceeds from securities sold, not yet purchased	1,261	328
Changes in receivables and payables relating to securities transactions	(598)	1,485
Loss on extinguishment of debt	2	162
Equity earnings from non-consolidated affiliates	(43)	(39)
Depreciation and amortization	640	600
Deferred taxes	58	18
Other, net	(20)	66
Changes in cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	3	(912)
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	(1,279)	(703)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	510	(619)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(1,067)	(986)
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired	(855)	(558)
Proceeds from sale of investments	68	0
Net proceeds from the sale and disposition of assets	80	0
Purchases of investments	(107)	(78)
Other, net	22	37
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,859)	(1,585)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contribution by non-controlling interests	246	500
Partnership distributions	(87)	(96)
Proceeds from offering of subsidiary equity	31	188
Distributions to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries	(190)	(595)
Proceeds from issuance of senior unsecured notes	0	4,991
Proceeds from other borrowings	1,284	4,689
Repayment of senior unsecured notes	0	(3,625)
Repayments of other borrowings	(737)	(3,997)
Purchase of treasury stock by subsidiary	(49)	0
Other, net	(20)	(42)
Net cash provided by financing activities	478	2,013
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	0	9
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(871)	(182)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,912	3,262
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,041	3,080
Supplemental information:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	536	518
Net cash payments for income taxes	13	81
Fair value of investment in Ferrous Resources prior to acquisition of controlling interest	36	0
Construction in progress additions included in accounts payable	43	25
Changes in accounts payable related to construction in progress additions	$ 15	$ (13)