Investment in Loans - Schedule of Unpoolable HECM Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Jun. 30, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 11,780,908	$ 11,609,077
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	11,822,695	11,626,008
Reverse mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		8,177,890	7,788,490
Loans, at fair value		8,471,061	8,097,237
Reverse mortgage loans | Reverse mortgage loans, held for investment
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		8,006,849	7,688,050
Loans, at fair value		8,286,009	7,993,635
Reverse mortgage loans | Reverse mortgage loans, held for investment | Securitized loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		7,874,433	7,577,139
Loans, at fair value		8,153,164	$ 7,873,964
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		34,474
Loans, at fair value		28,507
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Assignable buyout
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		11,342
Loans, at fair value		9,860
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Non-assignable buyout
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		18,565
Loans, at fair value		14,070
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Inactive HECM tail loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		4,567
Loans, at fair value		$ 4,577

[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.