Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 03, 2022	Dec. 31, 2022		Dec. 31, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020		Dec. 31, 2019
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Other	$ 77,772
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets	7,810,449
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Equity Interests Issued and Issuable	38,886
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Gross	38,886	$ (38,886)		$ 0		$ 0
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Net	88,562
Business Combination, Acquisition of Less than 100 Percent, Noncontrolling Interest, Fair Value	2,237
Deferred tax liability related to bargain purchase gain	2,858
Total net assets acquired less deferred tax liability	85,704
Business Combination, Bargain Purchase, Gain Recognized, Amount	7,932	7,932		0	[1]	0	[1]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	7,719,650
Business combination, recognized identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed including non-controlling interests, net	90,799
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	20,368	217,053	[2]	92,661	[2]	111,647		$ 72,302
Restricted cash	2,250	4,816	[2]	175	[2]	$ 175		$ 175
Loans, at fair value	7,698,426	11,626,008	[2],[3]	2,415,321	[2],[3]
Loan commitments, at fair value	3,090	3,060		0
Servicing Asset at Fair Value, Amount	8,174	8,108		0
Real estate owned	8,511	28,403	[2],[3]	24,681	[2],[3]
Financial derivatives–assets, at fair value-	7,121	132,518		18,894
Due from brokers	7,534	36,761		93,549
Other assets	51,475	$ 76,791	[2]	$ 3,710	[2]
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets, Gross	3,500
HMBS-related obligations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	7,448,524
Other secured borrowings, at fair value
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	218,261
interest payable
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	1,273
Accounts Payable and Accrued Liabilities
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Liabilities	$ 51,592

[1] Conformed to current period presentation.

[2] 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.

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