COVER PAGE - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Apr. 30, 2023
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2023
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	1-33796
Entity Registrant Name	CHIMERA INVESTMENT CORPORATION
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-0630461
Entity Address, Address Line One	630 Fifth Avenue
Entity Address, Address Line Two	Ste 2400
Entity Address, City or Town	New York,
Entity Address, State or Province	NY
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	10111
City Area Code	888
Local Phone Number	895-6557
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		232,096,164
Entity Central Index Key	0001409493
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2023
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Amendment Flag	false
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	CIM
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series A Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	8.00% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	CIM PRA
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series B Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	8.00% Series B Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	CIM PRB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series C Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	7.75% Series C Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	CIM PRC
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series D Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	8.00% Series D Fixed-to-Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	CIM PRD
Security Exchange Name	NYSE