Shonda Rhimes Net Worth and Success

Shonda Rhimes is a screenwriter, producer, and author who is best known as the showrunner for Grey’s Anatomy, as she is the creator, head writer, and executive producer of the medical drama series. However, she has also created many other series, which has led to Rhimes being named as one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time on three occasions. Her career success also means that Shonda Rhimes has become a wealthy woman. So, what is Shonda Rhimes’ net worth, and how did she become rich?

Shonda Rhimes Facts: Her Early Life

Rhimes was born in Chicago, Illinois, on 13th January 1970. She grew up in the Park Forest South neighbourhood with her parents and five older siblings. At school, Rhimes showed a talent for storytelling, and she volunteered at a local hospital while in high school, which sparked an interest in hospital environments.

In 1991, Shonda Rhimes achieved a bachelor’s degree in English and film studies from Dartmouth College. While at college, Rhimes was a Black Underground Theater Association member, leading to her performing in and directing student productions. She also wrote for the college newspaper and enjoyed fictional writing in her free time.

After leaving college, Rhimes moved to San Francisco and worked at McCann Erickson in advertising. She later moved to Los Angeles to study screenwriting at the University of Southern California. Not only did Rhimes obtain a Master of Fine Arts degree, but she also earned the Gary Rosenberg Writing Fellowship.

During her time at the University of Southern California, Rhimes gained experience working in the entertainment industry, as she became an intern for Debra Martin Chase, a successful African-American producer. Chase mentored Rhimes and later worked together on ‘The Princess Diaries 2.’ Around the same time, Rhimes also worked at Mundy Lane Entertainment, Denzel Washington’s company.

Facts About Shonda Rhimes: Her Early Career

After graduating from university, Rhimes was unemployed for a while. Although she wanted to work as a screenwriter, she had to work in other positions to pay her bills. Some of her jobs included working as an office administrator, a counsellor at a job centre, and a research director for the 1995 documentary ‘Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream.’

Rhimes’ only credit as a director is for the 1998 short film ‘Blossoms,’ which starred Jeffrey Wright and Jada Pinkett-Smith. The following year, New Line Cinema purchased a feature script from Rhimes, and she also landed her first screenwriting assignment when she was hired to co-write the script for ‘Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,’ an HBO movie.

Two years later, Shonda Rhimes wrote the script for ‘Crossroads,’ which starred Britney Spears. In 2003, the writer wrote a TV pilot for ABC, which the network turned down. The following year, Rhimes worked on the Disney movie ‘The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.

How Gray’s Anatomy Contributed to Shonda Rhimes’ Net Worth

Rhimes’s career took off when she created the hit medical drama series ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ which aired for the first time in 2005. The series initially revolved around Meredith Grey and her fellow medical students. Later, the series continues to focus on Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, and on the lives of other medical staff within the hospital and in their personal lives.

The original ensemble cast also included Sandra Oh, Katherine Heigl, T.R. Knight, Justin Chambers, Chandra Wilson, Patrick Dempsey, Isaiah Washington, Kate Walsh, and James Pickens Jr. Later additions to the main cast include Sara Ramirez, Jessica Capshaw, Eric Dane, and Kevin McKidd.

Grey’s Anatomy is the longest-running series on ABC, and one of the most successful medical drama series aired on television. Both Rhimes and the cast have won multiple prestigious awards for Grey’s Anatomy.

Rhimes’ Other Productions

Following on from the success of Grey’s Anatomy, Shonda Rhimes created the spinoff series Private Practice. In 2010, she created a pilot for ‘Inside the Box’ for ABC, but it was not picked up by the network. However, it was only a minor blip in her otherwise successful career.

Rhimes became the executive producer for ‘Off the Map’ in 2011, which aired for one season. In the same year, she created the political thriller series Scandal,’ which has run for seven seasons. A year later, Rhimes experienced another hurdle in her career when her pilot for the period drama ‘Gilded Lilys’ was not picked up by the network.

Rhimes’ career took an upward turn in 2013 when she wrote the pilot for ‘How to Get Away with Murder,’ which ABC officially picked up in 2014. Her project for 2016 was creating the series ‘The Catch,’ which ran for two seasons.

After Netflix picked up the streaming rights to Scandal and Grey’s Anatomy, the streaming service announced in 2017 that Rhimes had entered into an exclusive multi-year development deal. It means that all future productions from Shonda Rhimes and her production company, Shondaland, will be Netflix Original series.

Shonda Rhimes Net Worth

Shonda Rhimes’ net worth is $140 million. It means that she is richer than all the members of the Grey’s Anatomy cast. So, how did the screenwriter accrue her wealth? Rhimes has predominantly earned her money through her work as a screenwriter. Working as a producer has also contributed to Shonda Rhimes’ net worth, most of which is through her Shondaland production company. Rhimes also authored the book ‘Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be your Own Person.’

How Is Shonda Rhimes’ Net Worth Spent?

Many fans of the screenwriter will likely wonder how she spends her wealth. One way she spends her money is on properties, as she has homes on both sides of the United States. She currently owns several homes in Los Angeles, a luxurious apartment in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and a spacious 11-bedroom home in Westport.

Shonda Rhimes Facts: Her Personal Life

Shonda Rhimes does not often discuss her personal life with the media. However, it is known that the screenwriter is not married and has three daughters, says The Sun. She adopted her oldest daughter, Harper, in 2002. Rhimes then adopted a second daughter, Emerson Pearl, in 2012. A year later, her third daughter, Beckett, was born via a gestational surrogate.