Income Taxes Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Book basis of net assets		$ 5,456	$ 6,560
Book/tax basis difference		(1,397)	(1,940)
Tax basis of net assets		4,059	4,620
Domestic income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes		(1,765)	235	$ 1,836
Foreign income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes		26	(12)	30
Income before income tax benefit (expense)		(1,739)	223	1,866
Current income tax (expense) benefit		(109)	(15)	(28)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit		89	29	560
Income tax (expense) benefit		(20)	14	532
Deferred tax assets, Property, pland and equipment		17	17
Deferred tax asset, net operating loss		791	791
deferred tax asset, Tax credits		29	46
Deferred Tax Assets, Capital Loss Carryforwards		155	50
Deferred tax asset, Other		71	82
Deferred tax assets, gross		1,196	986
Deferred Tax Assets, Valuation Allowance		(619)	(518)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net of Valuation Allowance		577	468
Deferred tax liabilities, Property, plant and equipment		(125)	(129)
Deferred tax liabilities, Intangible assets		(37)	(33)
Deferred tax liability, Investment in partnerships		(652)	(699)
Deferred tax liabilities, Investment in U.S. subsidiaries		(184)	(184)
Deferred tax liabilities, Other		(61)	(79)
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Gross		(1,184)	(1,124)
defered tax liabilities, net of deferred tax assets		(607)	(656)
Deferred Tax Assets, Net		32	38
Deferred tax liability		639	694
Increase (decrease) in deferred tax asset valuation amount		101
Undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries		61
Unrecognized tax benefits balance		33	34	34	$ 52
Unrecognized Tax Benefits that Would Impact Effective Tax Rate		27	30	28
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Income Tax Penalties and Interest Accrued		1	1	2
Income tax expense related to interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits		0	(1)	(7)
Deferred tax assets, lease arrangements		133	0
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Leasing Arrangements		125	0
Energy Segment
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Income before income tax benefit (expense)		426	380	(25)
Income tax (expense) benefit		(112)	(46)	341
Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Book basis of net assets		5,453	6,588
Book/tax basis difference		(1,397)	(1,940)
Tax basis of net assets		4,056	4,648
Income before income tax benefit (expense)		(1,738)	224	1,868
Income tax (expense) benefit		(20)	14	532
Deferred tax liability		639	694
American Entertainment Properties Corp.
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Deferred tax assets, Operating loss carryforwards, Subject to expiration		2,000
CVR Energy
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Significant Change in Unrecognized Tax Benefits is Reasonably Possible, Amount of Unrecorded Benefit		3
CVR Energy | Energy Segment
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Equity issued to acquire additional interest in consolidated subsidiary (number of units)	13,699,549
CVR Refining | Energy Segment
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Common units validly tendered and not properly withdrawn	21,625,106
Domestic tax authority
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current income tax (expense) benefit		(106)	(11)	(15)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit		87	30	547
Foreign tax authority
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Current income tax (expense) benefit		(3)	(4)	(13)
Deferred income tax (expense) benefit		2	$ (1)	$ 13
Kansas | CVR Energy
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Tax credits		16
United States | Viskase
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards		58
Maximum | Other Foreign countries | Viskase
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards		40
Minimum | Other Foreign countries | Viskase
Income Tax Contingency [Line Items]
Operating loss carryforwards		$ 5