Ellen Pompeo

Ellen Kathleen Pompeo is an American actress, producer, and businesswoman best known for her iconic portrayal of Dr. Meredith Grey on the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” one of the longest-running primetime medical dramas in television history. Born on November 10, 1969, in Everett, Massachusetts, she grew up in a working-class family of Italian and Irish descent. She moved to New York City at age 26 to pursue acting and landed early roles in commercials and small television parts.

Pompeo’s career-defining role came in 2005 when she was cast as Dr. Meredith Grey in Shonda Rhimes’ “Grey’s Anatomy.” The show became a massive cultural phenomenon and one of ABC’s highest-rated programs. Pompeo has appeared in the series for 19 seasons, making her one of the highest-paid actresses in television history. In 2018, she negotiated a landmark salary of over $20 million per year, which included her acting salary, producing credit, and a signing bonus.

Beyond her acting work on Grey’s Anatomy, Pompeo has built a career as a producer and businesswoman. She served as an executive producer on the show and has produced other projects through her production company, Calamity Jane. She has been vocal about pay equity in Hollywood and has been credited with helping to shift conversations about how women in entertainment negotiate their worth.

Pompeo’s net worth of approximately $80 million is largely the result of her nearly two-decade run on Grey’s Anatomy, where she consistently ranked among the highest-paid actresses on television. Her earnings include her substantial per-episode salary, backend profits from syndication, producing fees, and various brand endorsements. She has invested in real estate and business ventures outside of entertainment, building a diversified portfolio of wealth.