Investment in Loans Investment in Loans (Schedule of Residential Mortgage Loans: Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2022		Oct. 03, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 11,609,077			$ 2,366,724
Loans, at fair value	11,626,008	[1],[2]	$ 7,698,426	2,415,321	[1],[2]
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	3,404,544			1,969,874
Loans, at fair value	3,115,518			2,016,228
Residential mortgage loans | Performing Financial Instruments [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	9,903			20,712
Loans, at fair value	8,836			20,611
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	49,144			33,949
Loans, at fair value	45,110			30,806
Residential mortgage loans | Securitized loans [Member] | Consolidated Entities [Member] | Non-QM loan securitization
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	$ 1,665,000			$ 1,041,545

[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.