Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2023		Sep. 30, 2022
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		$ (162,904)		$ 70,204
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of securities		(1,742,351)		(1,034,217)
Purchase of loans		(2,280,632)		(2,758,684)
Capital improvements of real estate owned		(37)		(137)
Proceeds from disposition of securities		1,525,663		1,069,959
Proceeds from disposition of loans		29,491		27,502
Contributions to investments in unconsolidated entities		(47,834)		(15,254)
Distributions from investments in unconsolidated entities		134,060		202,818
Proceeds from disposition of real estate owned		24,063		5,198
Proceeds from settlement of claims related to reverse mortgage loans repurchased from HMBS		82,115		0
Proceeds from principal payments of securities		127,309		259,252
Proceeds from principal payments of loans		1,946,981		484,637
Proceeds from investments sold short		288,283		776,902
Repurchase of securities sold short		(332,556)		(675,663)
Payments on financial derivatives		(201,306)		(86,868)
Proceeds from financial derivatives		216,473		165,384
Payments made on reverse repurchase agreements		(27,907,320)		(26,676,129)
Proceeds from reverse repurchase agreements		27,958,839		26,592,168
Due from brokers, net		9,413		17,949
Due to brokers, net		47,809		59,325
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(121,537)		(1,585,858)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	[1]	75,194		53,342
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	[1]	96,850		511
Offering costs paid		(635)		(757)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock		(12,352)		(1,659)
Dividends paid		(107,223)		(91,459)
Contributions from non-controlling interests		6,690		11,853
Distributions to non-controlling interests		(9,789)		(16,206)
Proceeds from issuance of other secured borrowings		1,323,595		15,063
Principal payments on other secured borrowings		(1,368,132)		(27,066)
Borrowings under repurchase agreements		28,939,166		9,074,510
Repayments of repurchase agreements		(28,834,355)		(8,392,715)
Proceeds from Issuance of Unsecured Debt		0		206,385
Repayments of Unsecured Debt		0		86,000
Proceeds from Issuance of Other Secured Borrowings, at fair value		0		857,578
Proceeds from issuance of HMBS		1,096,682		0
Principal payments on HMBS related obligations, at fair value		954,353		0
Due from brokers, net		(11,114)		(5,393)
Due to brokers, net		(1,384)		61
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		238,840		1,598,048
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash		(45,601)		82,394
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value		174,664	[2]	175,230
Restricted cash		1,604	[2]	0
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, Beginning of Period		221,869		92,836
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, End of Period		176,268		175,230
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid		194,126		75,005
Income tax paid		(458)		144
Dividends payable		14,343		11,732
Shares issued in connection with incentive fee payment (non-cash)		0		325
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense		989		1,019
Shares issued in connection with incentive fee payment (non-cash)		0		325
Share-based Payment Arrangement, Noncash Expense		989		1,019
Transfers from mortgage loans to real estate owned (non-cash)		20,181		1,018
Transfers from mortgage loans to other sales and claims receivable (non-cash)		81,218		0
Transfers from mortgage loans to investments in non-consolidated entities (non-cash)		67,435		209,965
Transfers from corporate loans to investments in unconsolidated entities (non-cash)		665		1,000
Contributions to investments in non-consolidated entities (non-cash)		(7,957)		0
Purchase of investments (non-cash)		(25,580)		0
Purchase of Loans Non Cash		69,610		0
Proceeds from the disposition of loans (non-cash)		174,181		0
Proceeds from principal payments of investments (non-cash)		135,153		267,368
Principal payments on Other secured borrowings, at fair value (non-cash)		(135,153)		(259,899)
Proceeds received from Other secured borrowings, at fair value (non-cash)		0		255,914
Proceeds from issuance of Other secured borrowings (non-cash)		69,610		0
Principal payments on Other secured borrowings (non-cash)		0		(43,719)
Repayments of repurchase agreement (non-cash)		$ (141,453)		$ (256,539)

[1] Net of discounts and commissions.

[2] 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.