Investment in Loans - Schedule of Unpoolable HECM Loans (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		$ 12,432,144	$ 12,164,019
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)	[1],[2]	12,644,232	12,306,636
Reverse mortgage loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		8,742,962	8,568,271
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		9,182,448	8,938,551
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		29,055	27,953
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		23,178	21,972
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Assignable buyout
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		11,109	8,508
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		9,337	6,897
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Non-assignable buyout
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		13,424	14,562
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		9,356	10,167
Reverse mortgage loans | Unpoolable HECM loans | Inactive HECM tail loans
Accounts, Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable [Line Items]
Unpaid Principal Balance		4,522	4,883
Loans, at fair value(1)(2)		$ 4,485	$ 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.