Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	Total	General partner	Limited partners	Total Partners' Equity	Non-controlling Interests	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] General partner	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] Limited partners	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] Total Partners' Equity	Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member] Non-controlling Interests
Equity at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 9,816	$ (244)	$ 4,913	$ 4,669	$ 5,147	$ 9,838	$ (293)	$ 4,984	$ 4,691	$ 5,147
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	2,444	20	1,005	1,025	1,419	2,444	10	1,015	1,025	1,419
Other comprehensive loss	177	3	130	133	44	177	2	131	133	44
Partnership contributions	593	12	581	593	0	593	6	587	593	0
Partnership distributions	(51)	(1)	(50)	(51)	0	(51)	(1)	(50)	(51)	0
Investment segment contributions	46	0	0	0	46	46	0	0	0	46
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests in subsidiary	(379)	0	0	0	(379)	(379)	0	0	0	(379)
Proceeds from subsidiary equity offerings	1,056	2	88	90	966	1,056	1	89	90	966
Acquisition of ARL	(242)	(5)	(237)	(242)	0	(242)	(3)	(239)	(242)	0
Changes in subsidiary equity and other	(151)	(3)	(122)	(125)	(26)	(151)	(1)	(124)	(125)	(26)
Equity at Dec. 31, 2013	13,309	(216)	6,308	6,092	7,217	13,331	(279)	6,393	6,114	7,217
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(529)	(7)	(366)	(373)	(156)	(528)	(4)	(368)	(372)	(156)
Other comprehensive loss	(488)	(8)	(358)	(366)	(122)	(488)	(3)	(363)	(366)	(122)
Partnership distributions	(125)	(2)	(123)	(125)	0	(125)	(1)	(124)	(125)	0
Investment segment contributions	500	0	0	0	500	500	0	0	0	500
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests in subsidiary	(642)	0	0	0	(642)	(642)	0	0	0	(642)
Proceeds from subsidiary equity offerings	160	0	10	10	150	160	0	10	10	150
Changes in subsidiary equity and other	205	4	201	205	0	205	2	203	205	0
Equity at Dec. 31, 2014	12,390	(229)	5,672	5,443	6,947	12,413	(285)	5,751	5,466	6,947
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Net (loss) income	(2,127)	(24)	(1,170)	(1,194)	(933)	(2,126)	(12)	(1,181)	(1,193)	(933)
Other comprehensive loss	(164)	(2)	(122)	(124)	(40)	(164)	(1)	(123)	(124)	(40)
Partnership distributions	(116)	(2)	(114)	(116)	0	(116)	(1)	(115)	(116)	0
Investment segment contributions	276	0	0	0	276	276	0	0	0	276
Investment segment distributions	(36)	0	0	0	(36)	(36)	0	0	0	(36)
Acquisitions	90	0	0	0	90	90	0	0	0	90
Distributions paid to non-controlling interests in subsidiary	(252)	0	0	0	(252)	(252)	0	0	0	(252)
Proceeds from subsidiary equity offerings	31	0	0	0	31	31	0	0	0	31
Changes in subsidiary equity and other	(59)	0	(22)	(22)	(37)	(59)	0	(22)	(22)	(37)
Equity at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 10,033	$ (257)	$ 4,244	$ 3,987	$ 6,046	$ 10,057	$ (299)	$ 4,310	$ 4,011	$ 6,046