Debt Table (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 8,155	$ 8,548
Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,824	2,805
Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	676	926
Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	170	171
Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	196	275
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	217	215
Real Estate Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	52	71
Home Fashion Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	0	0
Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| 6% senior unsecured notes due 2020 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	493	0
Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| 8% senior unsecured notes due 2018 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,474	2,476
Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| 7.75% senior unsecured notes due 2016 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	1,050	1,050
Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| Senior unsecured variable rate convertible notes due 2013 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	0	556
Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	196	275
Debt facilities [Member] \| Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,739	2,738
Debt facilities [Member] \| Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	500	749
Secured credit facilities [Member] \| Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	125	125
Secured credit facilities [Member] \| Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	170	171
Secured credit facilities [Member] \| Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	214	214
Mortgages payable [Member] \| Real Estate Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	50	70
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	144	124
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	8,149	8,540
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| 6% senior unsecured notes due 2020 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	493	0
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| 8% senior unsecured notes due 2018 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,471	2,471
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| 7.75% senior unsecured notes due 2016 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	1,047	1,047
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| Senior unsecured variable rate convertible notes due 2013 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	0	556
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Senior unsecured notes [Member] \| Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	196	275
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Debt facilities [Member] \| Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,739	2,738
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Debt facilities [Member] \| Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	500	749
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Secured credit facilities [Member] \| Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	125	125
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Secured credit facilities [Member] \| Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	170	171
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Secured credit facilities [Member] \| Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	214	214
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Mortgages payable [Member] \| Real Estate Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	50	70
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] \| Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 144	$ 124