Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 146,531		$ 72,302
Restricted cash	[1]	175		175
Securities, at fair value(1)	[1]	1,396,008		2,449,941
Loans, at fair value	[1]	1,416,851		1,412,426
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	72,553		71,850
Real estate owned	[1]	24,044		30,584
Due from brokers	[1]	56,702		79,829
Investment related receivables	[1]	62,098		123,120
Other assets	[1]	3,276		7,563
Total Assets		3,236,851		4,338,217
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]	1,294,549		2,445,300
Investment related payables	[1]	23,750		66,133
Other secured borrowings	[1]	156,089		150,334
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	742,688		594,396
Interest payable	[1]	3,138		7,320
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	7,730		7,753
Total Liabilities		2,399,172		3,469,518
Total Stockholders' Equity		800,896		829,265
Non-controlling interests	[1]	36,783		39,434
Total Equity		837,679	$ 809,481	868,699	$ 593,114	$ 592,434	$ 595,170
Total Liabilities and Equity		3,236,851		4,338,217
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		716		6,016
Restricted cash		175		175
Securities, at fair value(1)		47,429		47,923
Loans, at fair value		1,398,167		1,393,916
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		6,379		5,641
Real estate owned		24,044		30,584
Investment related receivables		23,493		28,668
Other assets		2,024		6,191
Total Assets		1,502,427		1,519,114
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		196,192		302,791
Investment related payables		763		3,275
Other secured borrowings		156,089		150,334
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		742,688		594,396
Interest payable		591		1,247
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		973		2,279
Total Liabilities		1,097,296		1,054,322
Total Stockholders' Equity		379,417		440,394
Non-controlling interests		25,714		24,400
Total Equity		405,131		464,794
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 1,502,427		$ 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.