Schedule I Condensed Financial Information of Parent - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ 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
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest and dividend income									$ 265	$ 148	$ 127
Net (loss) gain from investment activities									(1,931)	322	302
Gain on disposition of assets, net									(253)	(84)	(2,163)
Other income (loss), net									19	0	(22)
Total revenues	$ 2,621	$ 2,320	$ 2,196	$ 1,855	$ 2,802	$ 2,569	$ 3,423	$ 2,983	8,992	11,777	12,619
Interest expense									605	524	655
Selling, general and administrative									1,376	1,386	1,269
Total Expenses									10,731	11,554	10,753
Net (loss) income	$ (157)	$ (373)	$ (597)	$ (664)	$ 1,170	$ (158)	$ 577	$ 412	(1,791)	2,001	2,632
Limited partners									(1,076)	2,039	2,405
General partner									(22)	(557)	49
Icahn Enterprises (Parent)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Equity in (loss) income of subsidiaries									(750)	1,819	2,789
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt									2	0	(12)
Interest expense									(350)	(337)	(323)
Net (loss) income									(1,098)	1,482	2,454
Limited partners									(1,076)	2,039	2,405
General partner									(22)	(557)	49
Icahn Enterprises Holdings (Parent)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Interest and dividend income									14	7	2
Net (loss) gain from investment activities									(377)	(389)	0
Gain on disposition of assets, net									2	23	(1)
Equity in (loss) income of subsidiaries									(363)	2,200	2,763
Other income (loss), net									0	4	41
Total revenues									(724)	1,845	2,805
Interest expense									350	337	324
Selling, general and administrative									23	25	25
Total Expenses									373	362	349
Net (loss) income									(1,097)	1,483	2,456
Limited partners									(1,086)	2,060	2,431
General partner									$ (11)	$ (577)	$ 25