Discontinued Operations Income From Discontinued Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Income from discontinued operations	$ (24)	$ 167	$ (24)	$ 212
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises	$ (24)	154	(24)	188
Discontinued operations, held for sale or disposed of by sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net sales		2,137		4,257
Other revenues from operations		284		555
Net gain on investment activities		(1)		0
Interest and dividend income		1		3
Other (loss) income, net		1		10
Revenue		2,422		4,825
Cost of goods sold		1,756		3,579
Restructuring, net		(2)		(2)
Impairment		6		6
Other expenses from operations		135		266
Selling, general and administrative		277		595
Interest expense		56		106
Expenses		2,228		4,550
Income from discontinued operations before income tax expense		194		275
Income tax expense		(27)		(63)
Income from discontinued operations		167		212
Less: income from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interests		13		24
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises		154		188
Capital expenditures		122		280
Depreciation and amortization		16		150
Federal-Mogul | Discontinued operations, held for sale or disposed of by sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net sales		2,047		4,103
Other revenues from operations		0		0
Net gain on investment activities		0		0
Interest and dividend income		0		1
Other (loss) income, net		1		9
Revenue		2,048		4,113
Cost of goods sold		1,672		3,437
Restructuring, net		(2)		(2)
Impairment		2		2
Other expenses from operations		0		0
Selling, general and administrative		196		416
Interest expense		48		92
Expenses		1,916		3,945
Income from discontinued operations before income tax expense		132		168
Income tax expense		(18)	$ 24	(41)
Income from discontinued operations		114		127
Less: income from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interests		3		6
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises		111		121
Capital expenditures		97		215
Depreciation and amortization		0		100
Tropicana | Discontinued operations, held for sale or disposed of by sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net sales		0		0
Other revenues from operations		227		446
Net gain on investment activities		0		0
Interest and dividend income		0		1
Other (loss) income, net		(1)		(1)
Revenue		226		446
Cost of goods sold		0		0
Restructuring, net		0		0
Impairment		0		0
Other expenses from operations		104		206
Selling, general and administrative		71		160
Interest expense		2		3
Expenses		177		369
Income from discontinued operations before income tax expense		49		77
Income tax expense		(7)		(14)
Income from discontinued operations		42		63
Less: income from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interests		7		10
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises		35		53
Capital expenditures		20		41
Depreciation and amortization		0		19
ARI | Discontinued operations, held for sale or disposed of by sale
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net sales		90		154
Other revenues from operations		57		109
Net gain on investment activities		(1)		0
Interest and dividend income		1		1
Other (loss) income, net		1		2
Revenue		148		266
Cost of goods sold		84		142
Restructuring, net		0		0
Impairment		4		4
Other expenses from operations		31		60
Selling, general and administrative		10		19
Interest expense		6		11
Expenses		135		236
Income from discontinued operations before income tax expense		13		30
Income tax expense		(2)		(8)
Income from discontinued operations		11		22
Less: income from discontinued operations attributable to non-controlling interests		3		8
Income from discontinued operations attributable to Icahn Enterprises		8		14
Capital expenditures		5		24
Depreciation and amortization		$ 16		$ 31