Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2022		Oct. 03, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 217,053	[1]	$ 20,368	$ 92,661	[1]	$ 111,647	$ 72,302
Restricted cash		4,816	[1]	2,250	175	[1]	175	175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	1,459,465			2,087,360
Loans, at fair value		11,626,008	[1],[2]	7,698,426	2,415,321	[1],[2]
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	127,046			195,643
Real estate owned		28,403	[1],[2]	8,511	24,681	[1],[2]
Investment related receivables	[1]	139,413			122,175
Other assets		76,791	[1]	51,475	3,710	[1]
Total Assets		14,085,886			5,177,419
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]	2,609,685			2,469,763
Investment related payables		49,323			39,048
Other secured borrowings	[1]	276,058			96,622
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	1,539,881			984,168
Interest payable	[1]	22,452			4,570
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	73,819			22,098
Total Liabilities		12,865,000			3,853,863
Total Stockholders' Equity		1,195,967			1,291,321
Non-controlling interests	[1]	24,919			32,235
Total Equity		1,220,886			1,323,556		$ 921,572	$ 868,699
Total Liabilities and Equity		14,085,886			5,177,419
Due from brokers		36,761		$ 7,534	93,549
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		2,444			9,214
Restricted cash		0			175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		73,644			72,840
Loans, at fair value		3,524,685			2,384,078
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		68,574			36,874
Real estate owned		21,121			24,681
Investment related receivables		21,893			46,621
Other assets		1,577			2,434
Total Assets		3,713,938			2,576,917
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		1,333,098			613,314
Other secured borrowings		37,812			95,621
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		1,539,881			984,168
Interest payable		2,012			1,087
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		1,460			1,579
Total Liabilities		2,914,263			1,695,769
Total Stockholders' Equity		789,625			862,632
Non-controlling interests		10,050			18,516
Total Equity		799,675			881,148
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 3,713,938			$ 2,576,917

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 11 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 13 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.