Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 103,617			$ 111,647
Restricted cash	[1]	175			175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	1,895,563			1,514,185
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	1,996,529			1,453,480
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	142,019			141,620
Real estate owned	[1],[2]	37,002			23,598
Investment related receivables	[1]	97,721			49,317
Other assets	[1]	3,608			2,575
Total Assets		4,420,255			3,413,863
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]	2,105,836			1,496,931
Investment related payables		82,295			4,754
Other secured borrowings	[1]	90,981			51,062
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	872,306			754,921
Interest payable	[1]	1,813			3,233
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	20,943			18,659
Total Liabilities		3,324,985			2,492,291
Total Stockholders' Equity		1,063,326			885,215
Non-controlling interests	[1]	31,944			36,357
Total Equity		1,095,270	$ 955,104	$ 943,376	921,572	$ 872,277	$ 837,679	$ 809,481	$ 868,699
Total Liabilities and Equity		4,420,255			3,413,863
Due from brokers		89,983			63,147
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		1,472			701
Restricted cash		175			175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		71,128			44,523
Loans, at fair value		1,967,426			1,435,067
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		22,931			6,345
Real estate owned		37,002			23,598
Investment related receivables		40,121			24,824
Other assets		2,472			2,001
Total Assets		2,142,727			1,537,234
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		475,714			275,019
Other secured borrowings		89,455			51,062
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		872,306			754,921
Interest payable		713			776
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,009			1,103
Total Liabilities		1,439,197			1,082,881
Total Stockholders' Equity		684,792			430,554
Non-controlling interests		18,738			23,799
Total Equity		703,530			454,353
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 2,142,727			$ 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.