Investment in Loans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022		Dec. 31, 2021		Dec. 31, 2020	Oct. 03, 2022
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	$ 11,626,008	[1],[2]	$ 2,415,321	[1],[2]		$ 7,698,426
Unpaid Principal Balance	11,609,077		2,366,724
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans	267,000
Government Guaranteed Mortgage Loans upon Foreclosure Receivable
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid principal balance on unactive loans	265,900
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	3,115,518		2,016,228
Losses	(335,750)		(13,184)
Mortgage Loans in Process of Foreclosure, Amount	27,700		8,100
Unpaid Principal Balance	3,404,544		1,969,874
Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	4,843		62,365
Losses	(645)		(1,537)
Unpaid Principal Balance	5,190		59,881
Delinquent loans, charged off	3,000		3,600		$ 20,900
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	500		1,300
Fair value of charged-off loans	200		300
Non-performing | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	45,110		30,806
Unpaid Principal Balance	49,144		33,949
Performing Financial Instruments [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	8,836		20,611
Unpaid Principal Balance	9,903		20,712
Performing Financial Instruments [Member] | Participation in Multi-Seller Consumer Loan Securitization [Member] | Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Aggregate unpaid principal balance of loans sold	47,700
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	2,944,630		2,004,888
Losses	(327,316)		(13,173)
Unpaid Principal Balance	3,225,997		1,958,807
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans			(33)		(800)
Financing Receivable, Purchased with Credit Deterioration, Allowance for Credit Loss at Acquisition Date			100
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	23,700		3,000
Loans held-for-investment [Member] | Consumer loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Realized Losses, Write offs on loans	$ (2,100)		$ (1,400)		$ (3,200)

[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.