Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 111,647	[1]	$ 72,302	[1]	$ 44,656
Restricted cash		175	[1]	175	[1]	425
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	1,514,185		2,449,941
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	1,453,480		1,412,426
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	141,620		71,850
Real estate owned	[1],[2]	23,598		30,584
Due from brokers		63,147	[1]	79,829	[1]	71,794
Investment related receivables	[1]	49,317		123,120
Other assets		2,575	[1]	7,563	[1]	15,536
Total Assets		3,413,863		4,338,217		3,971,499
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		1,496,931	[1]	2,445,300	[1]	1,498,849
Investment related payables		4,754	[1]	66,133	[1]	488,411
Other secured borrowings		51,062	[1]	150,334	[1]	114,100
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		754,921	[1]	594,396	[1]	297,948
Accounts payable and accrued expenses						5,723
Interest payable	[1]	3,233		7,320
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	18,659		7,753
Total Liabilities		2,492,291		3,469,518		3,376,329
Total Stockholders' Equity		885,215		829,265		563,833
Non-controlling interests		36,357	[1]	39,434	[1]	31,337
Total Equity		921,572		868,699		595,170	$ 620,961
Total Liabilities and Equity		3,413,863		4,338,217		$ 3,971,499
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		701		6,016
Restricted cash		175		175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		44,523		47,923
Loans, at fair value		1,435,067		1,393,916
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		6,345		5,641
Real estate owned		23,598		30,584
Investment related receivables		24,824		28,668
Other assets		2,001		6,191
Total Assets		1,537,234		1,519,114
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		275,019		302,791
Investment related payables		0		3,275
Other secured borrowings		51,062		150,334
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		754,921		594,396
Interest payable		776		1,247
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,103		2,279
Total Liabilities		1,082,881		1,054,322
Total Stockholders' Equity		430,554		440,394
Non-controlling interests		23,799		24,400
Total Equity		454,353		464,794
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 1,537,234		$ 1,519,116

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s 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.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 11 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.