Investments in Unconsolidated Entities Schedule of Ownership of Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Details)	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Longbridge Financial LLC [Member] | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		49.60%
LendSure Mortgage Corp [Member] | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	49.90%	49.90%
LendSure Mortgage Corp [Member] | Nonvoting Common Stock [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	13.80%
LendSure Mortgage Corp [Member] | Nonvoting Common Stock [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		13.80%
Jepson Holdings Limited | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	1.90%	19.60%
Elizon DB 2015-1 LLC [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Effective Ownership Percentage	62.40%	47.50%
Elizon DB 2015-1 LLC [Member] | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	14.60%	3.40%
Other Equity Method Investments [Member] | Nonvoting Common Stock [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		16.40%
Elizon NM CRE 2020-1 LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Effective Ownership Percentage	54.20%	31.00%
Elizon NM CRE 2020-1 LLC | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	20.20%	20.50%
Elizon CH CRE 2020-1 LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Effective Ownership Percentage	57.40%	44.80%
Elizon CH CRE 2020-1 LLC | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	34.20%	30.50%
Co-investments with Ellington affiliate(s) - Other | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	0.00%	16.80%
Equity investments in securitization-related risk retention vehicles | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		56.30%
Elizon NAT CRE 2020-1 LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Effective Ownership Percentage	66.60%
Elizon NAT CRE 2020-1 LLC | Voting ownership
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	15.50%	0.00%
Minimum | Other Equity Method Investments [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	9.90%	8.00%
Minimum | Loan Originator - Other
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	24.70%	31.50%
Minimum | Equity investments in securitization-related risk retention vehicles
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	24.60%
Maximum | Other Equity Method Investments [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	79.00%	79.00%
Maximum | Loan Originator - Other
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	80.00%	80.00%
Maximum | Equity investments in securitization-related risk retention vehicles
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	56.30%