CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Total	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-In Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Deficit		Total Stockholders’ Equity	Noncontrolling Interest
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016			$ 1,200,559	$ 10,189	$ 15,579,342	$ (1,085,893)	$ (3,136,017)			$ 7,792
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock compensation expense					1,406
Issuance			696,910	1,405	1,646,201
Acquisition of subsidiary			0	0	0
Redemption of preferred stock			(177,088)		(8,224)
Buyback of common stock				0	0
Direct purchase and dividend reinvestment				2	2,540
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		$ (89,997)				(89,997)
Reclassification adjustment for net gains (losses) included in net income (loss)		49,870				49,870
Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly		1,569,604					1,569,604
Dividends declared on preferred stock	[1]						(109,635)
Dividends and dividend equivalents declared on common stock and share-based awards	[1]						(1,285,701)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		588								(588)
Equity contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests										(1,104)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017		14,871,573	1,720,381	11,596	17,221,265	(1,126,020)	(2,961,749)		$ 14,865,473	6,100
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock compensation expense					1,961
Issuance			411,335	1,103	1,116,409
Acquisition of subsidiary			55,000	436	455,507
Redemption of preferred stock			(408,548)		(3,952)
Buyback of common stock				0	0
Direct purchase and dividend reinvestment		3,144		3	3,141
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		(2,004,166)				(2,004,166)
Reclassification adjustment for net gains (losses) included in net income (loss)		1,150,321				1,150,321
Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly		54,408					54,408
Dividends declared on preferred stock	[1]						(129,312)
Dividends and dividend equivalents declared on common stock and share-based awards		(1,457,007)					(1,457,007)	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		260								(260)
Equity contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests										(151)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018		14,117,801	1,778,168	13,138	18,794,331	(1,979,865)	(4,493,660)		14,112,112	5,689
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock compensation expense					2,162
Issuance			428,324	1,422	1,397,484
Acquisition of subsidiary			0	0	0
Redemption of preferred stock			(224,466)		(5,534)
Buyback of common stock				(261)	(223,313)
Direct purchase and dividend reinvestment		1,795		2	1,793
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities		4,135,862				4,135,862
Reclassification adjustment for net gains (losses) included in net income (loss)		(17,806)				(17,806)
Net income (loss) attributable to Annaly		(2,162,865)					(2,162,865)
Dividends declared on preferred stock	[1]						(136,576)
Dividends and dividend equivalents declared on common stock and share-based awards		(1,516,323)					(1,516,323)	[1]
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		226								(226)
Equity contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests										(1,136)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 15,796,344	$ 1,982,026	$ 14,301	$ 19,966,923	$ 2,138,191	$ (8,309,424)		$ 15,792,017	$ 4,327

[1] See Note titled “Capital Stock” for dividends per share for each class of shares.