Consolidated VIEs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Sep. 30, 2023		Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022		Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 174,664	[1]			$ 217,053	[1]	$ 175,230			$ 92,661
Restricted cash		1,604	[1]			4,816	[1]	0			175
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	1,502,049				1,459,465
Loans, at fair value	[1],[2]	11,920,872				11,626,008
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value	[1]	113,474				127,046
Real estate owned	[1],[2]	23,570				28,403
Investment related receivables	[1]	167,447				139,413
Other assets	[1]	95,866				76,791
Total Assets		14,445,041				14,085,886
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements	[1]	2,573,043				2,609,685
Investment related payables		36,641				49,323
Other secured borrowings	[1]	301,131				276,058
Other secured borrowings, at fair value	[1]	1,404,567				1,539,881
Interest payable	[1]	20,078				22,452
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	[1]	98,742				73,819
Total Liabilities		13,107,624				12,865,000
Total Stockholders' Equity		1,313,490				1,195,967
Non-controlling interests	[1]	23,927				24,919
Total Equity		1,337,417		$ 1,344,657	$ 1,374,763	1,220,886		$ 1,180,629	$ 1,234,455	$ 1,322,938	$ 1,323,556
Total Liabilities and Equity		14,445,041				14,085,886
Due from brokers		38,870				36,761
Primary Beneficiary
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents		243				2,444
Securities, at fair value(1)(2)		80,524				73,644
Loans, at fair value		3,280,868				3,524,685
Investment in unconsolidated entities, at fair value		68,874				68,574
Real estate owned		19,011				21,121
Investment related receivables		98,204				21,893
Other assets		1,657				1,577
Total Assets		3,549,381				3,713,938
Liabilities
Repurchase agreements		1,265,848				1,333,098
Other secured borrowings		29,542				37,812
Other secured borrowings, at fair value		1,404,567				1,539,881
Interest payable		1,477				2,012
Accrued expenses and other liabilities		875				1,460
Total Liabilities		2,702,309				2,914,263
Total Stockholders' Equity		837,435				789,625
Non-controlling interests		9,637				10,050
Total Equity		847,072				799,675
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ 3,549,381				$ 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.