CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Interest income:
Investment Securities and corporate debt	$ 2,793,703		$ 3,225,269		$ 3,555,900
Commercial real estate debt and preferred equity	76,096
U.S. Treasury securities	29,081		17,222		14,706
Securities loaned	8,788		9,903		6,897
Reverse repurchase agreements	10,459		6,218		1,707
Other	435		533		408
Total interest income	2,918,562		3,259,145		3,579,618
Interest expense:
Repurchase agreements	530,170		577,243		426,769
Convertible Senior Notes	67,057		67,221		35,017
U.S. Treasury securities sold, not yet purchased	20,235		15,114		13,081
Securities borrowed	6,785		7,594		5,459
Participation sold	467
Total interest expense	624,714		667,172		480,326
Net interest income	2,293,848		2,591,973		3,099,292
Other income (loss):
Realized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps	(908,294)	[1]	(893,769)	[1]	(882,395)	[1]
Realized gains (losses) on termination of interest rate swaps	(101,862)		(2,385)
Unrealized gains (losses) on interest rate swaps	2,002,200		(32,219)		(1,815,107)
Subtotal	992,044		(928,373)		(2,697,502)
Investment advisory income	43,643		82,138		79,075
Net gains (losses) on disposal of investments	403,045		432,139		206,846
Net loss on extinguishment of 4% Convertible Senior Notes			(162,340)
Dividend income from affiliates	18,575		28,336		31,516
Net gains (losses) on trading assets	1,509		22,910		21,398
Net unrealized gains (losses) on interest-only Agency mortgage-backed securities	244,730		(59,937)		(106,657)
Impairment of goodwill	(23,987)
Loss on previously held equity interest in CreXus	(18,896)
Income from underwriting					5,618
Other income (loss)	15,481		525		130
Subtotal	684,100		343,771		237,926
Total other income (loss)	1,676,144		(584,602)		(2,459,576)
General and administrative expenses:
Compensation and management fee	167,366		190,702		206,251
Other general and administrative expenses	64,715		44,857		31,093
Total general and administrative expenses	232,081		235,559		237,344
Income (loss) before income taxes and income from equity method investment in affiliate	3,737,911		1,771,812		402,372
Income taxes	8,213		35,912		59,051
Income (loss) from equity method investment in affiliate					1,140
Net income (loss)	3,729,698		1,735,900		344,461
Dividends on preferred stock	71,968		39,530		16,854
Net income (loss) available (related) to common shareholders	3,657,730		1,696,370		327,607
Net income (loss) per share available (related) to common shareholders:
Basic	$ 3.86		$ 1.74		$ 0.37
Diluted	$ 3.74		$ 1.71		$ 0.37
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic	947,337,915		972,902,459		874,212,039
Diluted	995,557,026		1,005,755,057		874,518,938
Net income (loss)	3,729,698		1,735,900		344,461
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(5,378,089)		482,765		2,036,894
Unrealized losses on interest rate swaps					14,298
Reclassification adjustment for net (gains) losses included in net income (loss)	(424,086)		(438,511)		(206,846)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,802,175)		44,254		1,844,346
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ (2,072,477)		$ 1,780,154		$ 2,188,807

[1] Interest expense related to the Company's interest rate swaps is recorded in Realized losses on interest rate swaps on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).