Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly Financial Data [Line Items]
Net sales	$ 2,349	$ 2,484	$ 2,588	$ 2,300	$ 2,578	$ 2,815	$ 2,819	$ 2,364	$ 9,720	$ 10,576	$ 9,306
Gross margin on net sales	235	415	459	400	362	443	392	377
Total revenues	2,621	2,320	2,196	1,855	2,802	2,569	3,423	2,983	8,992	11,777	12,619
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(149)	(373)	(573)	(664)	(206)	(334)	410	367	(1,759)	237	2,398
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	(8)	0	(24)	0	1,376	176	167	45	(32)	1,764	234
Net (loss) income	(157)	(373)	(597)	(664)	1,170	(158)	577	412	(1,791)	2,001	2,632
Less: net (loss) income attributable to non-controlling interests	0	(324)	(99)	(270)	240	(276)	275	280	(693)	519	178
Net income (loss) attributable to Icahn Enterprises	$ (157)	$ (49)	$ (498)	$ (394)	$ 930	$ 118	$ 302	$ 132	$ (1,098)	$ 1,482	$ 2,454
Basic income (loss) per LP unit:
Continuing operations	$ (0.70)	$ (0.24)	$ (2.37)	$ (2.02)	$ (2.30)	$ (0.24)	$ 0.81	$ 0.55	$ (5.23)	$ (1.29)	$ 13.98
Discontinued operations	(0.04)	0.00	(0.12)	0.00	10.31	0.88	0.85	0.19	(0.15)	12.62	0.96
Basic income (loss) per LP unit	(0.74)	(0.24)	(2.49)	(2.02)	8.01	0.64	1.66	0.74	(5.38)	11.33	14.94
Diluted income (loss) per LP unit
Continuing operations	(0.70)	(0.24)	(2.37)	(2.02)	(2.30)	(0.24)	0.81	0.55	(5.23)	(1.29)	13.98
Discontinued operations	(0.04)	0.00	(0.12)	0.00	10.31	0.88	0.85	0.19	(0.15)	12.62	0.96
Diluted income (loss) per LP unit	$ (0.74)	$ (0.24)	$ (2.49)	$ (2.02)	$ 8.01	$ 0.64	$ 1.66	$ 0.74	$ (5.38)	$ 11.33	$ 14.94
Gain on disposition of assets, net									$ 253	$ 84	$ 2,163
Federal-Mogul, Tropicana and ARI [Member]
Diluted income (loss) per LP unit
Gain on disposition of assets, net					$ 1,400