Investments in Unconsolidated Entities (Summarized Financial Information) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022		Dec. 31, 2021
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Other assets(1)	[1]	$ 77,099	$ 76,791
Total Assets		15,315,930	14,085,886
Liabilities		13,780,318	12,865,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent		1,517,071	1,195,967
Total Liabilities and Equity		15,315,930	14,085,886
Interest income		370,172	282,218	[2]	$ 175,505
Interest expense		(262,451)	(141,777)	[2]	(44,030)
Interest Income (Expense), Net		107,721	140,441	[2]	131,475
Other, net		40,954	5,379	[2]	7,194
Noninterest Income		169,199	(80,447)	[2]	19,562
Operating Expenses		187,710	84,965	[2]	65,441
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		60,902	(85,339)	[2]	125,346
Equity Method Investment, Nonconsolidated Investee or Group of Investees
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investments, summarized financial information, Investments		1,143,198	938,395
Other assets(1)		67,595	183,312
Total Assets		1,210,793	1,121,707
Other Borrowings		986,828	779,932
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Other liabilities		28,819	104,805
Liabilities		1,015,647	884,737
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent		195,146	236,970
Total Liabilities and Equity		1,210,793	1,121,707
Interest income		139,340	63,985		53,400
Interest expense		76,129	22,514		5,078
Interest Income (Expense), Net		63,211	41,471		48,322
Gain (Loss) on Investments		(39,215)	(35,527)		(35,814)
Other, net		29,099	33,839		12,304
Noninterest Income		(10,116)	(1,688)		(23,510)
Operating Expenses		53,230	44,317		16,330
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders		$ (135)	$ (4,534)		$ 8,482

[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] Conformed to current period presentation.