Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 149,350	$ 111,647
Restricted cash	[1]	175	175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	1,909,127	1,514,185
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	1,582,516	1,453,480
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	147,684	141,620
Real estate owned	[1],[2]	35,557	23,598
Investment related receivables	[1]	67,338	49,317
Other assets	[1]	3,499	2,575
Total Assets		4,106,925	3,413,863
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]	1,909,511	1,496,931
Investment related payables	[1]	40,836	4,754
Other secured borrowings	[1]	64,506	51,062
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	911,256	754,921
Interest payable	[1]	1,915	3,233
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	19,708	18,659
Total Liabilities		3,163,549	2,492,291
Total Stockholders' Equity		909,856	885,215
Non-controlling interests	[1]	33,520	36,357
Total Equity		943,376	921,572	$ 809,481	$ 868,699
Total Liabilities and Equity		4,106,925	3,413,863
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		661	701
Restricted cash		175	175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		59,162	44,523
Loans, at fair value		1,556,716	1,435,067
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		10,642	6,345
Real estate owned		35,557	23,598
Investment related receivables		40,669	24,824
Other assets		2,511	2,001
Total Assets		1,706,093	1,537,234
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		267,429	275,019
Other secured borrowings		64,506	51,062
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		911,256	754,921
Interest payable		359	776
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		952	1,103
Total Liabilities		1,244,502	1,082,881
Total Stockholders' Equity		441,115	430,554
Non-controlling interests		20,476	23,799
Total Equity		461,591	454,353
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 1,706,093	$ 1,537,234

[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.

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