How much is shonda rhimes worth

With shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and Bridgerton on her resume, it makes sense that Shonda Rhimes’ net worth is in the tens of millions.

Show

Rhimes, the youngest of six children from Chicago, Illinois, graduated from Dartmouth College in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in English and film studies. While at Dartmouth, Rhimes wrote for the school newspaper and directed, performed and wrote for the Black Underground Theater Association. After she graduated from Dartmouth, Rhimes moved to Los Angeles to study screenwriting at the University of Southern California. Upon her graduation, Rhimes was hired as an intern for producer Debra Martin Chase, whom she credits for her early success. One of Rhimes’ big breaks came in 2004 when she wrote the Princess Diaries sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, which Chase also produced.

However, it wasn’t until the next year, in 2005, that Rhimes became known as the TV behemoth we recognize her as today. On March 27, 2005, Grey’s Anatomy premiered on ABC. The series, which was executive produced and creates by Rhimes, followed a team of surgical interns, residents and attendings at the fictional Seattle Grace Hospital, now known as Grey Sloan Memorial. The series, for which Rhimes won a Golden Globe for, was followed by other Shondaland hits like Private Practice, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder, The Catch and Station 19. In December 2020, Rhimes premiered her first show for Netflix: Bridgerton, a historical drama based on Julia Quinn’s novel series about a fictional upperclass British family known as the Bridgertons. Now that we have her career out of the way, let’s find out about Shonda Rhimes’ net worth.

'Bridgerton' by Julia Quinn $10.79

Buy Now


How much is shonda rhimes worth

Image: Courtesy of Avon.

How much is Shonda Rhimes’ Netflix deal?

Variety reported in 2017 that Rhimes signed a multi-year production deal with Netflix, which ended her 15-year relationship with her previous network, ABC, where she created shows like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Rhimes signed a four-year contract with Netflix, where she would receive a backend percentage of the shows she creates. It’s unclear how much Rhimes’ Netflix deal is, but reports claimed at the time that Rhimes was paid $100 million for her new contract with the streaming service. At Elle’s Women in Hollywood event in 2018, Rhimes denied the figure. “I am the highest-paid showrunner in television,” she said at the time. Forbes later reported that Rhimes’ deal was worth $150 million.

As for why Rhimes left ABC, The Hollywood Reporter reported in 2020 that Rhimes’ decision to leave came after an ABC executive denied her a free Disneyland pass for her daughter, telling her, “Don’t you have enough?” According to the magazine, Rhimes made $10 million a year from ABC, which tried to negotiate with her before her deal with Netflix. Rhimes also told THR that her decision to leave ABC was due to the long hours and high episode counts of the network’s shows. “I felt like I was dying,” she said at the time. “Like I’d been pushing the same ball up the same hill in the exact same way for a really long time.”

What is Shonda Rhimes’ net worth?

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Rhimes is worth $140 million, which accounts for her nine-figure Netflix deal, as well as the money she made from ABC primetime hits like Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away With Murder and The Catch. Rhimes’ first Netflix show, Bridgerton, premiered in 2020. She’s also confirmed to create at least two more shows: Notes on Love and Inventing Anna.

Bridgerton is available to stream on Netflix. The Bridgerton book series by Julia Quinn is available on Amazon
.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

The Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates in response to price inflation. But monetary policy misses the link between how corporate profits and pricing strategies are hurting consumers and engineering a recession.

ByErrol SchweizerContributor

Jul 28, 2022

Over 400 TV Writers And Showrunners Demand Abortion Protections From Major Studios, Report Says

The demands were sent to Netflix, Disney and other major companies by TV industry heavyweights including Mindy Kaling, Shonda Rhimes, Chelsea Handler, Amy Schumer and Amy Sherman-Palladino.

ByMarisa DellattoForbes Staff

Jun 13, 2022

Shonda Rhimes, Jimmy Kimmel Among 200 Hollywood Creators Pledging To Show Gun Safety On-Screen

Over 200 directors, producers, actors and other film and TV professionals signed an open letter Monday from gun violence prevention group Brady pledging to model responsible gun safety measures on-screen.

WATCH

Jun 13, 2022

Shonda Rhimes, Jimmy Kimmel Among 200 Hollywood Creators Pledging To Show Gun Safety On-Screen

Signers of the open letter called for showing responsible gun storage and limiting the number of scenes with children and guns.

ByMarisa DellattoForbes Staff

Apr 12, 2022

The Cofounders Of Summit Want You To Make No Small Plans

The four cofounders of Summit — an event production company that has hosted over 250 global gatherings over the past 15 years including the likes of Richard Branson and Shonda Rhimes — have a new book, "Make No Small Plans," out today. Their chief motivation is to inspire others to dream big.

ByMeiMei FoxContributor

Feb 12, 2022

‘Inventing Anna’: A Review Of The New Limited Series On Netflix

'Inventing Anna,' created by Shonda Rhimes and starring Julia Garner and Anna Chlumsky, has jumped to the top of Netflix's Top 10 Shows a day after its release on February 11.

BySheena ScottContributor

Feb 8, 2022

New Netflix Series ‘Inventing Anna’ Is Brilliant Must-See TV

Shonda Rhimes' latest Netflix series 'Inventing Anna' is binge-worthy TV. Here, Katie Lowes, Alexis Floyd, Laverne Cox and Arian Moayed talk Anna Delvey.

ByDana FeldmanSenior Contributor

Dec 10, 2021

Why ‘Yes, And...’ Is The Greatest Unlock, According To Author, Podcast Host And Cultural Expert Jess Weiner

Bestselling author and podcast host Jess Weiner has made a name for herself as a consultant for brands like Barbie, Nike and Disney, and with her new podcast, "Dominant Stories." Learn how 'yes, and...' has become a key principle for global brands and what she discussed with guest, Shonda Rhimes.

ByKarin EldorSenior Contributor

Jul 15, 2021

Netflix Increases Shonda Rhimes $100 Million Deal For A Bigger Stake In Culture

Netflix has huge plans with its original content offerings in hopes of wading deeper into diverse audiences by increasing its deal with showrunner legend Shonda Rhimes. The multiyear deal includes new media formats beyond TV and movies, and into gaming, merchandise, virtual reality and live events.

ByKori HaleContributor

Jun 8, 2021

How Shonda Rhimes Increased Her Earnings Power With Shondaland

Shonda Rhimes spent the first 12 years of her TV career contributing to Disney’s empire. Now she’s building her own.

ByKirsten TaggartForbes Staff

WATCH

Jun 2, 2021

Shonda Rhimes Does Things The Shondaland Way, Thanks To Groundbreaking Netflix Deal

Shonda Rhimes spent the first 12 years of her TV career contributing to Disney’s empire. Now she’s building her own.

ByMadeline BergFormer Staff

Jan 31, 2021

‘Bridgerton’ Women Dish On Wigs, Costumes, Intimacy Coordinator And Shonda Rhimes

The female stars of Netflix’s Bridgerton, Netflix’s escapist hit of the 2020 holiday season—determined debutante Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor); seemingly innocent Penelope Featherington (Nicola Coughlan); sharp-tongued grand dame Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh); and frustrated feminist Eloise Bri...

ByJane LevereContributor

Jan 27, 2021

‘Bridgerton’ Makes History On Netflix With 82 Million Viewers; $100 Million Shonda Rhimes Gamble Pays Off

Rhimes is no stranger to major series success.

ByTom NunanContributor

Jan 5, 2021

Netflix Has Another Hit In Shonda Rhimes’ Smashing ‘Bridgerton’ Debut

Shonda Rhimes' first Netflix show, 'Bridgerton,' has been a huge initial success, the streamer said, watched by 63 million households in its first four weeks. It was No. 1 in 76 countries.

ByDavid BloomSenior Contributor

Dec 21, 2020

Laverne Cox Launches Her First Podcast Series With Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland Audio

Laverne Cox launches her first podcast, a weekly series from Shonda Rhimes’ Shondaland Audio and iHeartMedia.

ByKemberlie SpiveyFormer Contributor

Dec 10, 2020

Shonda Rhimes Partners Up With Peloton For ‘Year Of Yes: Peloton X Shonda Rhimes’

Award-winning Executive Producer and Peloton Member Shonda Rhimes is teaming up with Peloton to create an 8-week “Year of Yes” class collection, and she’s inviting Peloton Members as well as her fans to come along with her.

How much did Shonda Rhimes make off GREY's anatomy?

Shonda Rhimes' Net Worth: The 'Grey's Anatomy' & 'Bridgerton' Showrunner Makes A Million An Episode.

How much does Ellen Pompeo make per episode?

According to Forbes, Pompeo makes $550,000 per episode on Grey's Anatomy. She also receives about $6 million per year from her share of syndication profits. All in all, Forbes reports that she makes $19 million (£15.9 million) per year.

How much is Ellen Pompeo worth 2022?

Well, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Pompeo is worth a massive $80 million, which includes the $19 million to $20 million she receives each year from Grey's Anatomy, as well as her income from other business ventures, such as her production company, Calamity Jane, and endorsement deals with brands like Pantene, Lyf ...

Does Shonda Rhimes own GREY's anatomy?

Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal and other projects with ABC. Rhimes is the creator and currently executive producer and head writer of Grey's Anatomy.