Related Party Transactions (Promissory Note to Related Party) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022		Dec. 31, 2021
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 12,164,019	$ 11,609,077
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	12,306,636	11,626,008
Realized gains (losses) on securities and loans, net		(93,993)	(105,449)	[3]	$ 5,017
Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities		(855)	(63,614)	[3]	$ 58,104
Corporate loan [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		6,379	4,132
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 5,819	$ 4,086
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date May 2021
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Maturity Date		Dec. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 6,000
Investment Interest Rate		9.00%	6.00%
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 2,335	$ 3,000
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 2,335	$ 3,000
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date March 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Maturity Date		Jan. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 750
Investment Interest Rate		7.00%	7.00%
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 575	$ 475
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 575	$ 475
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date November 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Maturity Date		Jan. 31, 2025
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 500
Investment Interest Rate			10.00%
Unpaid Principal Balance			$ 50
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)			$ 50
Realized gains (losses) on securities and loans, net		$ (500)
Corporate loan [Member] | Equity Method Investee | Promissory note to equity method investee, effective date December 2022
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Investment Maturity Date		Dec. 16, 2024
Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity		$ 3,500
Investment Interest Rate		15.00%	15.00%
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 1,644	$ 515
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 1,233	$ 515

[1] Ellington Financial Inc.'s Consolidated Balance Sheets include assets and liabilities of variable interest entities it has consolidated. See Note 12 for additional details on Ellington Financial Inc.'s consolidated variable interest entities.

[2] Includes assets pledged as collateral to counterparties. See Note 14 for additional details on the Company's borrowings and related collateral.

[3] Conformed to current period presentation.