Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ (1,656)	$ 23
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net loss (gain) from securities transactions	(257)	1,249
Purchases of securities	(1,440)	(3,753)
Proceeds from sales of securities	6,863	3,404
Purchases to cover securities sold, not yet purchased	(227)	(438)
Proceeds from securities sold, not yet purchased	589	1,261
Changes in receivables and payables relating to securities transactions	(5,087)	(598)
Depreciation and amortization	748	641
Impairment	670	10
Equity earnings from non-consolidated affiliates	(48)	(43)
Deferred taxes	0	58
Other, net	64	(28)
Changes in cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	583	3
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	520	(1,279)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,322	510
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(615)	(1,067)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(1,047)	(855)
Purchases of investments	(97)	(107)
Proceeds from sale of investments	66	68
Other, net	26	102
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,667)	(1,859)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contributions by non-controlling interests	505	246
Capital distributions to non-controlling interests	(7)	(1)
Partnership contributions	1	0
Partnership distributions	(81)	(87)
Proceeds from offering of subsidiary equity	0	31
Dividends and distributions to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries	(74)	(190)
Proceeds from other borrowings	1,905	1,284
Repayments of other borrowings	(1,959)	(737)
Other, net	(11)	(68)
Net cash provided by financing activities	279	478
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(22)	0
Net change in cash of assets held for sale	12	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(76)	(871)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,078	2,912
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,002	2,041
Supplemental information:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	538	536
Net cash payments (refunds) for income taxes	66	13
Investment in Pep Boys prior to acquiring a controlling interest	160	0
Investment in Trump prior to acquiring a controlling interest	126	0
LP unit issuance for remaining 25% interest in ARL	35	0
Subsidiary common unit issuance for acquisition of CVR Nitrogen	336	0
Fair value of equity investment in Ferrous Resources prior to acquisition of controlling interest	0	36
Icahn Enterprises Holdings [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	(1,655)	24
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Net loss (gain) from securities transactions	(257)	1,249
Purchases of securities	(1,440)	(3,753)
Proceeds from sales of securities	6,863	3,404
Purchases to cover securities sold, not yet purchased	(227)	(438)
Proceeds from securities sold, not yet purchased	589	1,261
Changes in receivables and payables relating to securities transactions	(5,087)	(598)
Depreciation and amortization	747	640
Impairment	670	10
Equity earnings from non-consolidated affiliates	(48)	(43)
Deferred taxes	0	58
Other, net	64	(28)
Changes in cash held at consolidated affiliated partnerships and restricted cash	583	3
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities	520	(1,279)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,322	510
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(615)	(1,067)
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired	(1,047)	(855)
Purchases of investments	(97)	(107)
Proceeds from sale of investments	66	68
Other, net	26	102
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,667)	(1,859)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Capital contributions by non-controlling interests	505	246
Capital distributions to non-controlling interests	(7)	(1)
Partnership contributions	1	0
Partnership distributions	(81)	(87)
Proceeds from offering of subsidiary equity	0	31
Dividends and distributions to non-controlling interests in subsidiaries	(74)	(190)
Proceeds from other borrowings	1,905	1,284
Repayments of other borrowings	(1,959)	(737)
Other, net	(11)	(68)
Net cash provided by financing activities	279	478
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(22)	0
Net change in cash of assets held for sale	12	0
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(76)	(871)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	2,078	2,912
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	2,002	2,041
Supplemental information:
Cash payments for interest, net of amounts capitalized	538	536
Net cash payments (refunds) for income taxes	66	13
Investment in Pep Boys prior to acquiring a controlling interest	160	0
Investment in Trump prior to acquiring a controlling interest	126	0
LP unit issuance for remaining 25% interest in ARL	35	0
Subsidiary common unit issuance for acquisition of CVR Nitrogen	336	0
Fair value of equity investment in Ferrous Resources prior to acquisition of controlling interest	$ 0	$ 36