Schedule I - Condensed Financial Information of Parent - Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,699	$ 3,794
Restricted cash	1,592	1,151
Investments	8,913	9,945
Other assets	1,293	1,264
Total Assets	24,987	24,639
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,586	1,453
Debt	8,059	8,192
Total liabilities	15,730	13,697
Commitments and contingencies (Note 3)
Limited partner	4,235	6,268
General partner	(853)	(812)
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 24,987	$ 24,639
Limited partners: Depositary units issued	241,338,835	214,078,558	191,366,097	173,564,307
Limited partners: Depositary units outstanding	241,338,835	214,078,558
Icahn Enterprises (Parent)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Investments in subsidiaries, net	$ 9,273	$ 11,853
Total Assets	9,273	11,853
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	80	100
Debt	5,811	6,297
Total liabilities	5,891	6,397
Commitments and contingencies (Note 3)
Limited partner	4,235	6,268
General partner	(853)	(812)
Total equity	3,382	5,456
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 9,273	$ 11,853
Limited partners: Depositary units issued	241,338,835	214,078,558
Limited partners: Depositary units outstanding	241,338,835	214,078,558
Icahn Enterprises Holdings (Parent)
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 868	$ 1,042
Restricted cash	11	7
Investments	260	346
Investments in subsidiaries, net	8,148	10,474
Total Assets	9,287	11,869
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	94	116
Debt	5,813	6,300
Total liabilities	5,907	6,416
Commitments and contingencies (Note 3)
Limited partner	4,276	6,328
General partner	(896)	(875)
Total equity	3,380	5,453
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 9,287	$ 11,869