Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities:
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		$ 34,051	$ 44,753
Realized (gains) losses on securities and loans, net		17,208	36,767
Realized (gains) losses on financial derivatives, net		(3,478)	25,447
Realized gains (losses) on real estate owned, net		1,372	56
Unrealized gains (losses) on securities and loans, net		(5,573)	(99,257)
Unrealized gains (losses) on financial derivatives, net		(30,365)	(2,763)
Unrealized gains (losses) on real estate owned, net		679	(4)
Net change related to HMBS obligations, at fair value		177,982	131,534
Earnings (losses) from investments in unconsolidated entities		(2,226)	(3,444)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		(59,461)	(48,662)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchase of securities		(266,368)	(440,666)
Purchase and origination of loans		(905,310)	(675,665)
Proceeds from Sale of Forward MSR-related Investments		8,537	0
Capital improvements of real estate owned		0	(26)
Proceeds from disposition of securities		737,308	507,153
Proceeds from disposition of loans		52,402	0
Contributions to investments in unconsolidated entities		(15,659)	(5,654)
Distributions from investments in unconsolidated entities		27,533	42,530
Proceeds from disposition of real estate owned		13,091	13,082
Proceeds from FHA insurance claims and other receivables on HECM loans		11,813	0
Proceeds from principal payments of securities		35,043	38,440
Proceeds from principal payments of loans		637,627	536,983
Proceeds from securities sold short		21,942	127,172
Repurchase of securities sold short		(10,046)	(180,963)
Payments on financial derivatives		(77,127)	(93,263)
Proceeds from financial derivatives		82,030	70,235
Payments made on reverse repurchase agreements		(8,351,628)	(10,437,812)
Proceeds from reverse repurchase agreements		8,340,599	10,484,229
Due from brokers, net		35,199	56
Due to brokers, net		15,986	(4,557)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		392,972	(18,726)
Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities:
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock	[1]	26,903	60,611
Proceeds from Issuance of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	[1]	0	96,850
Offering costs paid		(212)	(45)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock		(524)	(12,072)
Dividends paid		(39,950)	(33,981)
Contributions from non-controlling interests		1,040	816
Distributions to non-controlling interests		(1,589)	(1,065)
Proceeds from issuance of other secured borrowings		334,718	400,278
Principal payments on other secured borrowings		(399,627)	(380,616)
Borrowings under repurchase agreements		15,281,381	9,785,538
Repayments of repurchase agreements		(15,589,965)	(9,967,872)
Proceeds from Issuance of Other Secured Borrowings, at fair value		18,271	0
Proceeds from issuance of HMBS		292,702	332,845
Principal payments on HMBS related obligations, at fair value		278,440	262,386
Due from brokers, net		(1,192)	13,355
Due to brokers, net		(13,762)	3,419
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		(370,246)	35,675
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash		(36,735)	(31,713)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, Beginning of Period		230,545	221,869
Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash, End of Period		193,810	190,156
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	[2]	187,467	188,555
Restricted cash	[2]	6,343	1,601
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid		68,220	67,143
Income tax paid		232	(518)
Dividends payable		15,168	14,043
Transfers from mortgage loans to real estate owned (non-cash)		13,056	3,134
Transfers from mortgage loans to other sales and claims receivable (non-cash)		12,026	10,501
Transfers from mortgage loans to investments in non-consolidated entities (non-cash)		18,600	17,175
Transfers from corporate loans to investments in unconsolidated entities (non-cash)		500	0
Contributions to investments in non-consolidated entities (non-cash)		0	(7,957)
Purchase of investments (non-cash)		0	(25,580)
Purchase of Loans Non Cash		0	72,257
Proceeds from the disposition of loans (non-cash)		0	174,181
Proceeds from principal payments of investments (non-cash)		31,184	35,371
Principal payments on Other secured borrowings, at fair value (non-cash)		(31,184)	(35,371)
Proceeds received from Other secured borrowings, at fair value (non-cash)		144,217	0
Proceeds from issuance of Other secured borrowings (non-cash)		0	67,921
Repayments of repurchase agreement (non-cash)		$ (141,106)	$ (141,453)

[1] Net of discounts and commissions.

[2] 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.