Investment in Loans (Schedule of Commercial Mortgage Loans) (Details) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($) loan		Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($) loan		Oct. 03, 2022 USD ($)
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 11,609,077		$ 2,366,724
Unamortized Premium (Discount)	(164,198)		(143,262)
Loans, at fair value	$ 11,626,008	[1],[2]	$ 2,415,321	[1],[2]	$ 7,698,426
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon	1.58%		3.52%
Weighted Average Yield	4.41%		3.24%
Weighted average life	6 years 8 months 1 day		5 years 11 months 8 days
Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	$ 406,721		$ 326,438
Unamortized Premium (Discount)	0		0
Investments, at fair value, Cost	406,721		326,438
Gains	1		76
Losses	(2,398)		(317)
Loans, at fair value	404,324		326,197
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss	2,400		300
Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance	17,700		15,500
Loans, at fair value	$ 17,600		$ 15,500
Number of loans | loan	2		1
Commercial mortgage loans | Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon	10.76%		7.05%
Weighted Average Yield	10.66%		6.99%
Weighted average life	11 months 4 days		1 year 3 months 29 days
Non-accrual status [Member] | Commercial mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value			$ 15,500
Non-accrual status [Member] | Commercial mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value	$ 17,600

[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.