Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	[1]	$ 92,661	$ 111,647
Restricted cash	[1]	175	175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	2,087,360	1,514,185
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	2,415,321	1,453,480
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	195,643	141,620
Real estate owned	[1],[2]	24,681	23,598
Investment related receivables	[1]	122,175	49,317
Other assets	[1]	3,710	2,575
Total Assets		5,177,419	3,413,863
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]	2,469,763	1,496,931
Investment related payables		39,048	4,754
Other secured borrowings	[1]	96,622	51,062
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	984,168	754,921
Interest payable	[1]	4,570	3,233
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	22,098	18,659
Total Liabilities		3,853,863	2,492,291
Total Stockholders' Equity		1,291,321	885,215
Non-controlling interests	[1]	32,235	36,357
Total Equity		1,323,556	921,572	$ 868,699	$ 595,170
Total Liabilities and Equity		5,177,419	3,413,863
Due from brokers		93,549	63,147
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		9,214	701
Restricted cash		175	175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		72,840	44,523
Loans, at fair value		2,384,078	1,435,067
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		36,874	6,345
Real estate owned		24,681	23,598
Investment related receivables		46,621	24,824
Other assets		2,434	2,001
Total Assets		2,576,917	1,537,234
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		613,314	275,019
Other secured borrowings		95,621	51,062
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		984,168	754,921
Interest payable		1,087	776
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,579	1,103
Total Liabilities		1,695,769	1,082,881
Total Stockholders' Equity		862,632	430,554
Non-controlling interests		18,516	23,799
Total Equity		881,148	454,353
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 2,576,917	$ 1,537,234

[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.