Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net sales	$ 6,140	$ 5,389	$ 5,674
Cost of sales	(4,625)	(3,984)	(4,356)
Gross profit	1,515	1,405	1,318
Selling, general and administrative expenses	(456)	(416)	(506)
Amortization of intangible assets	(20)	(9)	(11)
Research and development expenses	(72)	(78)	(119)
Other (charges) gains, net	(60)	(11)	(351)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	(1)	(1)	4
Gain (loss) on disposition of businesses and assets, net	(5)	3	(9)
Operating profit (loss)	901	893	326
Equity in net earnings (loss) of affiliates	183	155	181
Interest expense	(122)	(120)	(119)
Refinancing expense	0	(6)	0
Interest income	2	2	1
Dividend income - cost investments	108	108	107
Other income (expense), net	3	(2)	(8)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before tax	1,075	1,030	488
Income tax (provision) benefit	(213)	(122)	(201)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	862	908	287
Earnings (loss) from operation of discontinued operations	(16)	(3)	(3)
Gain (loss) on disposition of discontinued operations	0	0	0
Income tax (provision) benefit from discontinued operations	3	1	1
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(13)	(2)	(2)
Net earnings (loss)	849	906	285
Net (earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)	(6)	19
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Celanese Corporation	843	900	304
Amounts attributable to Celanese Corporation
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	856	902	306
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	(13)	(2)	(2)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 843	$ 900	$ 304
Earnings (loss) per common share - basic
Continuing operations	$ 6.21	$ 6.22	$ 2.03
Discontinued operations	(0.10)	(0.01)	(0.01)
Net earnings (loss) - basic	6.11	6.21	2.02
Earnings (loss) per common share - diluted
Continuing operations	6.19	6.19	2.01
Discontinued operations	(0.10)	(0.01)	(0.01)
Net earnings (loss) - diluted	$ 6.09	$ 6.18	$ 2.00
Weighted average shares - basic	137,902,667	144,939,433	150,838,050
Weighted average shares - diluted	138,317,395	145,668,181	152,287,955