CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Net Interest Income:
Interest income	[1]	$ 934,068	$ 872,737	$ 687,795
Interest expense	[2]	347,857	259,365	147,785
Net interest income		586,211	613,372	540,010
Other-than-temporary impairments:
Total other-than-temporary impairment losses		(9,589)	(8,700)	(8,713)
Portion of loss recognized in other comprehensive income		(48,398)	(58,744)	(55,279)
Net other-than-temporary credit impairment losses		(57,987)	(67,444)	(63,992)
Other investment gains (losses):
Net unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives		50,093	67,385	(103,496)
Realized gains (losses) on terminations of interest rate swaps		(60,616)	(98,949)	0
Net realized gains (losses) on derivatives		(44,886)	(83,073)	(82,852)
Net gains (losses) on derivatives		(55,409)	(114,637)	(186,348)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments at fair value		59,552	(158,433)	193,534
Net realized gains (losses) on sales of investments		18,155	77,074	91,709
Gain (loss) on deconsolidation		0	(256)	47,846
Gains (losses) on Extinguishment of Debt		(477)	(5,930)	(2,184)
Total other gains (losses)		21,821	(202,182)	144,557
Other income:
Other income		95,000	0	23,783
Total other income		95,000	0	23,783
Other expenses:
Management fees		0	24,609	32,514
Expense recoveries from Manager		0	(6,906)	(8,936)
Net management fees		0	17,703	23,578
Provision for loan losses, net		0	0	(232)
Compensation and benefits		26,901	10,544	0
General and administrative expenses		17,516	31,633	20,403
Servicing Fees of consolidated VIEs		31,178	25,244	10,004
Deal Expenses		17,424	8,272	1,398
Total other expenses		93,019	93,396	55,151
Income (loss) before income taxes		552,026	250,350	589,207
Income taxes		83	1	2
Net income (loss)		551,943	250,349	589,205
Dividend on preferred stock		2,449	0	0
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders		$ 549,494	$ 250,349	$ 589,205
Net income (loss) per share available to common shareholders:
Basic (usd per share)		$ 2.93	$ 1.25	$ 2.87
Diluted (usd per share)		$ 2.92	$ 1.25	$ 2.87
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:
Basic (shares)		187,728,634	199,563,196	205,450,095
Diluted (shares)		188,024,838	199,650,177	205,508,769
Dividends declared per share of common stock (usd per share)		$ 2.44	$ 1.92	$ 1.80

[1] Includes interest income of consolidated VIEs of $678,623, $575,715, and $428,992 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 respectively. See Note 8 to consolidated financial statements for further discussion.

[2] Includes interest expense of consolidated VIEs of $249,708, $191,922 and $119,103 for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014 respectively. See Note 8 to consolidated financial statements for further discussion.