Investment in Loans Investment in Loans (Schedule of Corporate Loans) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		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
Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		6,379	4,132
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		5,819	$ 4,086
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss		$ 600
Weighted Average
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		4.78%	4.46%
Weighted average life		5 years 5 months 1 day	6 years 8 months 1 day
Weighted Average | Corporate loan [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Weighted Average Coupon		10.13%	5.47%
Weighted average life		1 year 6 months 7 days	2 years 8 months 26 days

[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.