Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023		Dec. 31, 2022		Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents			$ 188,555		$ 217,053	[1]	$ 363,529	$ 92,661
Restricted cash			1,601		4,816	[1]	175	175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]		1,389,547		1,459,465
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]		11,812,567		11,626,008
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]		118,747		127,046
Real estate owned	[1],[2]		26,717		28,403
Investment related receivables	[1]		163,029		139,413
Other assets		$ 90,105	90,105	[1]	76,791	[1]
Total Assets		14,111,525	14,111,525		14,085,886
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]		2,285,898		2,609,685
Investment related payables			48,373		49,323
Other secured borrowings	[1]		363,640		276,058
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]		1,534,592		1,539,881
Interest payable	[1]		14,926		22,452
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]		91,115		73,819
Total Liabilities		12,736,762	12,736,762		12,865,000
Total Stockholders' Equity			1,349,832		1,195,967
Non-controlling interests	[1]		24,931		24,919
Total Equity		$ 1,374,763	1,374,763		1,220,886		$ 1,322,938	$ 1,323,556
Total Liabilities and Equity			14,111,525		14,085,886
Due from brokers			24,291		36,761
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents			11,623		2,444
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)			72,200		73,644
Loans, at fair value			3,402,949		3,524,685
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value			61,131		68,574
Real estate owned			21,400		21,121
Investment related receivables			27,684		21,893
Other assets			1,321		1,577
Total Assets			3,598,308		3,713,938
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements			1,227,769		1,333,098
Other secured borrowings			34,281		37,812
Other secured borrowings, at fair value			1,534,592		1,539,881
Interest payable			2,566		2,012
Accrued expenses and other liabilities			1,321		1,460
Total Liabilities			2,800,529		2,914,263
Total Stockholders' Equity			787,846		789,625
Non-controlling interests			9,933		10,050
Total Equity			797,779		799,675
Total Liabilities and Equity			$ 3,598,308		$ 3,713,938

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Condensed 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.