Condensed Balance Sheets By Reporting Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 1,920	$ 2,154	$ 1,920	$ 2,154	$ 2,078	$ 2,912
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	694		694		1,282
Investments	9,875		9,875		15,351
Accounts receivable, net	1,796		1,796		1,685
Inventories, net	2,861		2,861		2,259
Property, plant and equipment, net	11,442		11,442		9,535
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	2,326		2,326		2,612
Other assets	1,636		1,636		1,601
Total assets	32,550		32,550		36,403
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	6,018		6,018		4,441
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	1,306		1,306		794
Due to brokers	2,447		2,447		7,317
Post-employment benefit liability	1,212		1,212		1,224
Debt	12,969		12,969		12,594
Total assets	23,952		23,952		26,370
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2,526		2,526		3,987
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	6,072		6,072		6,046
Total equity	8,598	13,442	8,598	13,442	10,033	12,390
Total liabilities and equity	32,550		32,550		36,403
Interest expense	202	287	443	557
Net (loss) income	(285)	541	(1,894)	963
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(69)	212	(906)	373
Investment Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	13		13		10
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	610		610		1,199
Investments	9,217		9,217		14,553
Accounts receivable, net	0		0		0
Inventories, net	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	0		0		0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Other assets	353		353		378
Total assets	10,193		10,193		16,140
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	901		901		488
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	1,306		1,306		794
Due to brokers	2,447		2,447		7,317
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	0		0		0
Total assets	4,654		4,654		8,599
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1,713		1,713		3,428
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	3,826		3,826		4,113
Total equity	5,539		5,539		7,541
Total liabilities and equity	10,193		10,193		16,140
Interest expense	45	141	132	264
Net (loss) income	(351)	382	(1,334)	778
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(107)	176	(557)	360
Automotive Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	345		345		201
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	5		5		0
Investments	266		266		296
Accounts receivable, net	1,429		1,429		1,418
Inventories, net	2,238		2,238		1,656
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,408		3,408		2,386
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	1,847		1,847		1,556
Other assets	565		565		430
Total assets	10,103		10,103		7,943
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	2,871		2,871		2,061
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	1,151		1,151		1,163
Debt	3,254		3,254		3,135
Total assets	7,276		7,276		6,359
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2,494		2,494		1,270
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	333		333		314
Total equity	2,827		2,827		1,584
Total liabilities and equity	10,103		10,103		7,943
Interest expense	38	34	77	70
Net (loss) income	42	30	70	10
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	35	25	56	7
Energy Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	691		691		765
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	0		0		0
Investments	5		5		0
Accounts receivable, net	150		150		96
Inventories, net	325		325		290
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,433		3,433		2,698
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	327		327		911
Other assets	105		105		128
Total assets	5,036		5,036		4,888
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	1,397		1,397		1,366
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	1,168		1,168		667
Total assets	2,565		2,565		2,033
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	1,079		1,079		1,508
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	1,392		1,392		1,347
Total equity	2,471		2,471		2,855
Total liabilities and equity	5,036		5,036		4,888
Interest expense	19	12	30	24
Net (loss) income	34	183	(580)	258
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	22	88	(331)	131
Metals Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1		1		12
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	5		5		4
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	38		38		26
Inventories, net	43		43		39
Property, plant and equipment, net	108		108		116
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	4		4		5
Other assets	14		14		13
Total assets	213		213		215
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	33		33		30
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	2		2		2
Debt	0		0		1
Total assets	35		35		33
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	178		178		182
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	178		178		182
Total liabilities and equity	213		213		215
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net (loss) income	(1)	(5)	(7)	(14)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(1)	(5)	(7)	(14)
Railcar Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	337		337		623
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	51		51		53
Investments	27		27		27
Accounts receivable, net	51		51		36
Inventories, net	77		77		97
Property, plant and equipment, net	2,760		2,760		2,767
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	7		7		7
Other assets	82		82		71
Total assets	3,392		3,392		3,681
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	310		310		299
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	8		8		8
Debt	2,426		2,426		2,671
Total assets	2,744		2,744		2,978
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	436		436		742
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	212		212		(39)
Total equity	648		648		703
Total liabilities and equity	3,392		3,392		3,681
Interest expense	21	21	44	41
Net (loss) income	52	56	102	100
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	44	36	80	63
Gaming Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	248		248		217
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	12		12		14
Investments	37		37		26
Accounts receivable, net	15		15		9
Inventories, net	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	903		903		740
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	88		88		74
Other assets	230		230		201
Total assets	1,533		1,533		1,281
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	151		151		118
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	288		288		289
Total assets	439		439		407
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	825		825		604
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	269		269		270
Total equity	1,094		1,094		874
Total liabilities and equity	1,533		1,533		1,281
Interest expense	3	3	6	6
Net (loss) income	8	9	14	16
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	6	6	9	11
Mining segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	19		19		14
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	0		0		0
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	4		4		4
Inventories, net	25		25		32
Property, plant and equipment, net	137		137		134
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Other assets	23		23		19
Total assets	208		208		203
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	50		50		30
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	53		53		50
Total assets	103		103		80
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	81		81		95
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	24		24		28
Total equity	105		105		123
Total liabilities and equity	208		208		203
Interest expense	2	1	3	1
Net (loss) income	(5)	(6)	(18)	(6)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(4)	(4)	(14)	(4)
Food Packaging Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	36		36		37
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	2		2		1
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	63		63		60
Inventories, net	79		79		77
Property, plant and equipment, net	149		149		152
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	7		7		8
Other assets	89		89		81
Total assets	425		425		416
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	64		64		62
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	51		51		51
Debt	266		266		267
Total assets	381		381		380
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	28		28		23
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	16		16		13
Total equity	44		44		36
Total liabilities and equity	425		425		416
Interest expense	3	3	6	6
Net (loss) income	2	6	6	6
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2	4	5	4
Real Estate Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	16		16		19
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	2		2		2
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	4		4		2
Inventories, net	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	465		465		467
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	43		43		48
Other assets	161		161		163
Total assets	691		691		701
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	18		18		17
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	26		26		28
Total assets	44		44		45
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	647		647		656
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	647		647		656
Total liabilities and equity	691		691		701
Interest expense	0	0	1	1
Net (loss) income	5	8	9	31
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	5	8	9	31
Home Fashion Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	3		3		14
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	4		4		6
Investments	0		0		0
Accounts receivable, net	42		42		34
Inventories, net	74		74		68
Property, plant and equipment, net	76		76		72
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	3		3		3
Other assets	6		6		9
Total assets	208		208		206
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	34		34		30
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	0		0		0
Total assets	34		34		30
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	174		174		176
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	174		174		176
Total liabilities and equity	208		208		206
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net (loss) income	(2)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(2)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Holding Company [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	211		211		166
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	3		3		3
Investments	323		323		449
Accounts receivable, net	0		0		0
Inventories, net	0		0		0
Property, plant and equipment, net	3		3		3
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	0		0		0
Other assets	8		8		108
Total assets	548		548		729
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	189		189		(60)
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	0		0		0
Due to brokers	0		0		0
Post-employment benefit liability	0		0		0
Debt	5,488		5,488		5,486
Total assets	5,677		5,677		5,426
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(5,129)		(5,129)		(4,697)
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	0		0		0
Total equity	(5,129)		(5,129)		(4,697)
Total liabilities and equity	548		548		729
Interest expense	71	72	144	144
Net (loss) income	(69)	(121)	(154)	(214)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(69)	(121)	(154)	(214)
Holding Company [Member]
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	1,920	2,154	1,920	2,154	2,078	2,912
Cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	694		694		1,282
Investments	9,875		9,875		15,351
Accounts receivable, net	1,796		1,796		1,685
Inventories, net	2,861		2,861		2,259
Property, plant and equipment, net	11,442		11,442		9,535
Total assets	32,575		32,575		36,427
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Securities sold, not yet purchased, at fair value	1,306		1,306		794
Due to brokers	2,447		2,447		7,317
Post-employment benefit liability	1,212		1,212		1,224
Debt	12,969		12,969		12,594
Total assets	23,952		23,952		26,370
Equity attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2,551		2,551		4,011
Equity attributable to non-controlling interests	6,072		6,072		6,046
Total equity	8,623	13,466	8,623	13,466	10,057	$ 12,413
Total liabilities and equity	32,575		32,575		36,427
Interest expense	201	286	442	556
Net (loss) income	(284)	542	(1,893)	964
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(68)	213	(905)	374
Holding Company [Member] | Investment Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	10,193		10,193		16,140
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	45	141	132	264
Net (loss) income	(351)	382	(1,334)	778
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(107)	176	(557)	360
Holding Company [Member] | Automotive Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	10,103		10,103		7,943
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	38	34	77	70
Net (loss) income	42	30	70	10
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	35	25	56	7
Holding Company [Member] | Energy Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	5,036		5,036		4,888
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	19	12	30	24
Net (loss) income	34	183	(580)	258
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	22	88	(331)	131
Holding Company [Member] | Metals Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	213		213		215
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net (loss) income	(1)	(5)	(7)	(14)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(1)	(5)	(7)	(14)
Holding Company [Member] | Railcar Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	3,392		3,392		3,681
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	21	21	44	41
Net (loss) income	52	56	102	100
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	44	36	80	63
Holding Company [Member] | Gaming Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	1,533		1,533		1,281
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	3	3	6	6
Net (loss) income	8	9	14	16
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	6	6	9	11
Holding Company [Member] | Mining segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	208		208		203
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	2	1	3	1
Net (loss) income	(5)	(6)	(18)	(6)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(4)	(4)	(14)	(4)
Holding Company [Member] | Food Packaging Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	425		425		416
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	3	3	6	6
Net (loss) income	2	6	6	6
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	2	4	5	4
Holding Company [Member] | Real Estate Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	691		691		701
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	0	0	1	1
Net (loss) income	5	8	9	31
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	5	8	9	31
Holding Company [Member] | Home Fashion Segment [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	208		208		206
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Net (loss) income	(2)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	(2)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Holding Company [Member] | Holding Company [Member]
ASSETS
Total assets	573		573		$ 753
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Interest expense	70	71	143	143
Net (loss) income	(68)	(120)	(153)	(213)
Net (loss) income attributable to Icahn Enterprises	$ (68)	$ (120)	$ (153)	$ (213)