Condensed Balance Sheets By Reporting Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,002	$ 2,041	$ 2,002	$ 2,041	$ 2,078	$ 2,912
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	692		692		1,282
Investments	9,987		9,987		15,351
Accounts receivable, net	1,725		1,725		1,685
Inventories, net	2,957		2,957		2,259
Property, plant and equipment, net	11,446		11,446		9,678
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	2,248		2,248		2,612
Other assets	2,028		2,028		1,458
Total assets	33,085		33,085		36,403
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	5,872		5,872		4,441
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	1,210		1,210		794
Due to brokers	3,030		3,030		7,317
Post-employment benefit liability	1,204		1,204		1,224
Debt	12,971		12,971		12,594
Total assets	24,287		24,287		26,370
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2,488		2,488		3,987
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	6,310		6,310		6,046
Total equity	8,798	12,286	8,798	12,286	10,033	12,390
Total liabilities and equity	33,085		33,085		36,403
Interest expense	222	296	665	853
Net income (loss)	238	(940)	(1,656)	23
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(16)	(440)	(922)	(67)
Investment Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	14		14		10
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	615		615		1,199
Investments	9,317		9,317		14,553
Accounts receivable, net	0		0		0
Inventories, net	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0		0		0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Other assets	977		977		378
Total assets	10,923		10,923		16,140
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	774		774		488
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	1,210		1,210		794
Due to brokers	3,030		3,030		7,317
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	0		0		0
Total assets	5,014		5,014		8,599
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1,825		1,825		3,428
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	4,084		4,084		4,113
Total equity	5,909		5,909		7,541
Total liabilities and equity	10,923		10,923		16,140
Interest expense	52	148	184	412
Net income (loss)	362	(1,041)	(972)	(263)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	111	(479)	(446)	(119)
Automotive Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	375		375		201
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	4		4		0
Investments	275		275		296
Accounts receivable, net	1,405		1,405		1,418
Inventories, net	2,335		2,335		1,656
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,383		3,383		2,386
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,790		1,790		1,556
Other assets	503		503		430
Total assets	10,070		10,070		7,943
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	2,795		2,795		2,061
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	1,142		1,142		1,163
Debt	3,338		3,338		3,135
Total assets	7,275		7,275		6,359
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2,457		2,457		1,270
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	338		338		314
Total equity	2,795		2,795		1,584
Total liabilities and equity	10,070		10,070		7,943
Interest expense	41	37	118	107
Net income (loss)	33	(10)	103	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	29	(11)	85	(4)
Energy Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	763		763		765
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	0		0		0
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	140		140		96
Inventories, net	323		323		290
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,392		3,392		2,698
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	322		322		911
Other assets	91		91		128
Total assets	5,031		5,031		4,888
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,445		1,445		1,366
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	1,167		1,167		667
Total assets	2,612		2,612		2,033
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1,054		1,054		1,508
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	1,365		1,365		1,347
Total equity	2,419		2,419		2,855
Total liabilities and equity	5,031		5,031		4,888
Interest expense	26	12	56	36
Net income (loss)	(8)	89	(588)	347
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2	50	(329)	181
Metals Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	5		5		12
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	5		5		4
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	32		32		26
Inventories, net	39		39		39
Property, plant and equipment, net	103		103		116
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	4		4		5
Other assets	14		14		13
Total assets	202		202		215
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	31		31		30
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	2		2		2
Debt	0		0		1
Total assets	33		33		33
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	169		169		182
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	169		169		182
Total liabilities and equity	202		202		215
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(6)	(8)	(13)	(22)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(6)	(8)	(13)	(22)
Railcar Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	299		299		623
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	44		44		53
Investments	36		36		27
Accounts receivable, net	33		33		36
Inventories, net	85		85		97
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,767		2,767		2,767
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	7		7		7
Other assets	77		77		71
Total assets	3,348		3,348		3,681
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	360		360		299
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	8		8		8
Debt	2,343		2,343		2,671
Total assets	2,711		2,711		2,978
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	424		424		742
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	213		213		(39)
Total equity	637		637		703
Total liabilities and equity	3,348		3,348		3,681
Interest expense	22	20	66	61
Net income (loss)	21	54	123	154
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	18	35	98	98
Gaming Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	290		290		217
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	13		13		14
Investments	36		36		26
Accounts receivable, net	12		12		9
Inventories, net	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	821		821		740
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	74		74		74
Other assets	230		230		201
Total assets	1,476		1,476		1,281
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	167		167		118
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	287		287		289
Total assets	454		454		407
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	750		750		604
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	272		272		270
Total equity	1,022		1,022		874
Total liabilities and equity	1,476		1,476		1,281
Interest expense	3	3	9	9
Net income (loss)	(83)	17	(69)	33
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(89)	12	(80)	23
Mining segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	2		2		14
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	0		0		0
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	2		2		4
Inventories, net	25		25		32
Property, plant and equipment, net	144		144		134
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Other assets	23		23		19
Total assets	196		196		203
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	38		38		30
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	56		56		50
Total assets	94		94		80
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	79		79		95
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	23		23		28
Total equity	102		102		123
Total liabilities and equity	196		196		203
Interest expense	2	0	5	1
Net income (loss)	(3)	(7)	(21)	(13)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(2)	(6)	(16)	(10)
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	47		47		37
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	2		2		1
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	57		57		60
Inventories, net	78		78		77
Property, plant and equipment, net	150		150		152
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	7		7		8
Other assets	85		85		81
Total assets	426		426		416
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	63		63		62
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	52		52		51
Debt	265		265		267
Total assets	380		380		380
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	31		31		23
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	15		15		13
Total equity	46		46		36
Total liabilities and equity	426		426		416
Interest expense	4	3	10	9
Net income (loss)	2	(4)	8	2
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1	(3)	6	1
Real Estate Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	13		13		19
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	2		2		2
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	3		3		2
Inventories, net	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	607		607		610
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	41		41		48
Other assets	18		18		20
Total assets	684		684		701
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	15		15		17
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	25		25		28
Total assets	40		40		45
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	644		644		656
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	644		644		656
Total liabilities and equity	684		684		701
Interest expense	0	1	1	2
Net income (loss)	4	24	13	55
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	4	24	13	55
Home Fashion Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	2		2		14
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	5		5		6
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	41		41		34
Inventories, net	72		72		68
Property, plant and equipment, net	76		76		72
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	3		3		3
Other assets	6		6		9
Total assets	205		205		206
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	35		35		30
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	1		1		0
Total assets	36		36		30
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	169		169		176
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	169		169		176
Total liabilities and equity	205		205		206
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(4)	(1)	(6)	(3)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(4)	(1)	(6)	(3)
Holding Company [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	192		192		166
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	2		2		3
Investments	323		323		449
Accounts receivable, net	0		0		0
Inventories, net	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	3		3		3
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Other assets	4		4		108
Total assets	524		524		729
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	149		149		(60)
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	5,489		5,489		5,486
Total assets	5,638		5,638		5,426
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(5,114)		(5,114)		(4,697)
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	(5,114)		(5,114)		(4,697)
Total liabilities and equity	524		524		729
Interest expense	72	72	216	216
Net income (loss)	(80)	(53)	(234)	(267)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(80)	(53)	(234)	(267)
Holding Company [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	2,002	2,041	2,002	2,041	2,078	2,912
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	692		692		1,282
Investments	9,987		9,987		15,351
Accounts receivable, net	1,725		1,725		1,685
Inventories, net	2,957		2,957		2,259
Property, plant and equipment, net	11,446		11,446		9,678
Total assets	33,110		33,110		36,427
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	1,210		1,210		794
Due to brokers	3,030		3,030		7,317
Post-employment benefit liability	1,204		1,204		1,224
Debt	12,971		12,971		12,594
Total assets	24,287		24,287		26,370
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2,513		2,513		4,011
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	6,310		6,310		6,046
Total equity	8,823	12,310	8,823	12,310	10,057	$ 12,413
Total liabilities and equity	33,110		33,110		36,427
Interest expense	222	296	664	852
Net income (loss)	238	(940)	(1,655)	24
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(16)	(440)	(921)	(66)
Holding Company [Member] | Investment Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	10,923		10,923		16,140
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	52	148	184	412
Net income (loss)	362	(1,041)	(972)	(263)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	111	(479)	(446)	(119)
Holding Company [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	10,070		10,070		7,943
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	41	37	118	107
Net income (loss)	33	(10)	103	0
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	29	(11)	85	(4)
Holding Company [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	5,031		5,031		4,888
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	26	12	56	36
Net income (loss)	(8)	89	(588)	347
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2	50	(329)	181
Holding Company [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	202		202		215
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(6)	(8)	(13)	(22)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(6)	(8)	(13)	(22)
Holding Company [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	3,348		3,348		3,681
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	22	20	66	61
Net income (loss)	21	54	123	154
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	18	35	98	98
Holding Company [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	1,476		1,476		1,281
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	3	3	9	9
Net income (loss)	(83)	17	(69)	33
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(89)	12	(80)	23
Holding Company [Member] | Mining segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	196		196		203
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	2	0	5	1
Net income (loss)	(3)	(7)	(21)	(13)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(2)	(6)	(16)	(10)
Holding Company [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	426		426		416
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	4	3	10	9
Net income (loss)	2	(4)	8	2
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1	(3)	6	1
Holding Company [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	684		684		701
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	0	1	1	2
Net income (loss)	4	24	13	55
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	4	24	13	55
Holding Company [Member] | Home Fashion Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	205		205		206
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss)	(4)	(1)	(6)	(3)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(4)	(1)	(6)	(3)
Holding Company [Member] | Holding Company [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	549		549		$ 753
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	72	72	215	215
Net income (loss)	(80)	(53)	(233)	(266)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	$ (80)	$ (53)	$ (233)	$ (266)