Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 136,740	$ 72,302
Restricted cash	[1]	175	175
Securities, at fair value(1)	[1]	1,481,395	2,449,941
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,443,589	1,412,426
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	65,397	71,850
Real estate owned	[1]	25,054	30,584
Due from brokers	[1]	166,516	79,829
Investment related receivables	[1]	408,332	123,120
Other assets	[1]	5,453	7,563
Total Assets		3,777,642	4,338,217
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]	2,034,225	2,445,300
Investment related payables	[1]	19,170	66,133
Other secured borrowings	[1]	177,855	150,334
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	549,668	594,396
Interest payable	[1]	5,283	7,320
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	8,001	7,753
Total Liabilities		2,968,161	3,469,518
Total Stockholders' Equity		774,383	829,265
Non-controlling interests	[1]	35,098	39,434
Total Equity		809,481	868,699	$ 592,434	$ 595,170
Total Liabilities and Equity		3,777,642	4,338,217
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		5,591	6,016
Restricted cash		175	175
Securities, at fair value(1)		54,042	47,923
Loans, at fair value		1,425,020	1,393,916
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		6,477	5,641
Real estate owned		25,054	30,584
Investment related receivables		35,388	28,668
Other assets		2,661	6,191
Total Assets		1,554,408	1,519,114
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		396,855	302,791
Investment related payables		495	3,275
Other secured borrowings		177,855	150,334
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		549,668	594,396
Interest payable		613	1,247
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		2,331	2,279
Total Liabilities		1,127,817	1,054,322
Total Stockholders' Equity		402,459	440,394
Non-controlling interests		24,132	24,400
Total Equity		426,591	464,794
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 1,554,408	$ 1,519,116

[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.