Investment in Loans Investment in Loans (Schedule of Residential Mortgage Loans: Performance) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [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
Residential mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		3,305,757	3,404,544
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		3,093,912	3,115,518
Residential mortgage loans | Performing Financial Instruments [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		4,252	9,903
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		3,761	8,836
Residential mortgage loans | Non-performing
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		127,085	49,144
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		119,524	45,110
Residential mortgage loans | Securitized loans [Member] | Consolidated Entities [Member] | Non-QM loan securitization
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 1,555,371	$ 1,665,070

[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.