Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents(1)		$ 55,876	[1]	$ 44,656	$ 44,700
Restricted cash(1)		175	[1]	425
Loans, at fair value(1)	[1]	1,014,990
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	58,152
Real estate owned(1)		31,003	[1]	30,778
Due from brokers(1)		58,145	[1]	71,794
Reverse repurchase agreements		25,381
Investment related receivables(1)	[1]	78,223
Other assets(1)		3,779	[1]	15,536
Total Assets		2,870,565		3,971,499
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements(1)	[1]	1,550,016
Investment related payables(1)		168,211	[1]	488,411
Other secured borrowings(1)		117,315	[1]	114,100
Other secured borrowings, at fair value(1)		282,124	[1]	297,948
Accounts payable and accrued expenses(1)		6,167	[1]	5,723
Interest payable(1)	[1]	4,995
Other liabilities(1)		278	[1]	424
Total Liabilities		2,278,131		3,376,329
Total Stockholders' Equity		562,209		563,833
Non-controlling interests(1)		30,225	[1]	31,337
Total Equity		592,434		595,170	$ 609,950	$ 620,961
Total Liabilities and Equity		2,870,565		$ 3,971,499
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents(1)		2,914
Restricted cash(1)		175
Loans, at fair value(1)		1,004,211
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		7,712
Real estate owned(1)		31,003
Due from brokers(1)		190
Investment related receivables(1)		25,221
Other assets(1)		2,499
Total Assets		1,073,925
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements(1)		348,737
Investment related payables(1)		1,452
Other secured borrowings(1)		117,315
Other secured borrowings, at fair value(1)		282,124
Accounts payable and accrued expenses(1)		1,347
Interest payable(1)		957
Other liabilities(1)		278
Total Liabilities		752,210
Total Stockholders' Equity		305,479
Non-controlling interests(1)		16,236
Total Equity		321,715
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 1,073,925

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet includes assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 9 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.