Schedule I Condensed Financial Information of Parent - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Interest and dividend income									$ 148	$ 127	$ 124
Net gain (loss) from investment activities									322	302	(1,373)
Gain on disposition of assets, net									(84)	(2,163)	(6)
Other (loss) income, net									0	(22)	42
Total revenues	$ 2,802	$ 2,569	$ 3,423	$ 2,983	$ 2,482	$ 3,406	$ 4,353	$ 2,378	11,777	12,619	7,379
Interest expense									524	655	692
Selling, general and administrative									1,386	1,269	1,001
Total Expenses									11,499	10,791	9,752
Net income (loss)	$ 1,182	$ (147)	$ 588	$ 423	$ 197	$ 829	$ 1,725	$ (160)	2,046	2,591	(2,220)
Limited partners									2,063	2,382	(1,106)
General partner									(556)	48	(22)
Icahn Enterprises (Parent)
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries									1,844	2,765	(839)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt									0	(12)	0
Interest expense									(337)	(323)	(289)
Net income (loss)									1,507	2,430	(1,128)
Limited partners									2,063	2,382	(1,106)
General partner									(556)	48	(22)
Icahn Enterprises Holdings (Parent)
Interest and dividend income									7	2	1
Net gain (loss) from investment activities									(389)	0	1
Gain on disposition of assets, net									23	(1)	0
Equity in earnings (loss) of subsidiaries									2,225	2,739	(818)
Other (loss) income, net									4	41	7
Total revenues									1,870	2,781	(809)
Interest expense									337	324	290
Selling, general and administrative									25	25	28
Total Expenses									362	349	318
Net income (loss)									1,508	2,432	(1,127)
Limited partners									2,085	2,408	(1,116)
General partner									$ (577)	$ 24	$ (11)