Debt Table (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 12,633	$ 11,588
Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	3,145	2,690
Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	673	675
Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,684	2,133
Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	292	295
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	270	274
Senior unsecured notes [Member] | 5.875% senior unsecured notes due 2022 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	1,339	1,337
Senior unsecured notes [Member] | 6.00% senior unsecured notes due 2020 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	1,707	1,708
Senior unsecured notes [Member] | 4.875% senior unsecured notes due 2019 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	1,271	1,270
Senior unsecured notes [Member] | 3.50% senior unsecured notes due 2017 - Icahn Enterprises/Icahn Enterprises Holdings
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	1,173	1,171
Debt facilities [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,974	2,584
Debt facilities [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	625	625
Debt facilities [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	2,684	2,133
Secured credit facilities [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	292	295
Secured credit facilities [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	270	272
Other Debt Obligations [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt	$ 298	$ 193