Investment in Loans - Schedule of Unpoolable HECM Loans (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
Reverse mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		8,568,271	7,788,490
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		8,938,551	8,097,237
Reverse mortgage loans | Reverse mortgage loans, held for investment
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		8,269,285	7,688,050
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		8,608,976	7,993,635
Reverse mortgage loans | Reverse mortgage loans, held for investment | Securitized loans [Member]
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		8,166,222	7,577,139
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		8,506,423	$ 7,873,964
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		27,953
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		21,972
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Assignable buyout
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		8,508
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		6,897
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Non-assignable buyout
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		14,562
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		10,167
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Inactive HECM tail loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		4,883
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 4,908

[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.