Ellen Pompeo Net Worth: 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Earns $550,000 Per Episode

“Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo is one of the highest-paid actresses on television today, earning more than half a million per episode on the ABC medical drama series.

Pompeo started playing Meredith Grey on "Grey’s Anatomy" in 2005. While the actress has appeared in several movies before starring in the TV drama, it was "Grey’s Anatomy" that made her a household name.

As the lead of the show, Pompeo used to receive $300,000 per episode or about $7.5 million annually for "Grey’s Anatomy" Seasons 11 and 12, Celebrity Net Worth reported. However, the pay gap between the male and female actresses was still wide at the time, and she used that to leverage a higher salary.

Pompeo's pay rose to $350,000 per episode for Seasons 13 and 14, but this still did not include additional payment for royalties and backend equity. In 2017, she bargained for better terms and got it.

Pompeo was able to increase her pay to $550,000 per episode and get syndication profits, which could amount to $6 million to $7 million annually, Forbes reported. With the global fame of “Grey’s Anatomy,” her actual take-home pay could still increase because the new deal includes future spinoffs and reruns.

When asked why she decided to stick with the show instead of moving on to other projects, the 51-year-old explained on the "Jemele Hill Is Unbothered" podcast in August that she prioritized stability over her career. Being the star of a show for 15 seasons means dedication and a steady salary, and with more than $20 million earnings per year, Pompeo is more than satisfied.

"For me, personally, a healthy home life was more important than career. I didn't grow up with a particularly happy childhood," Pompeo explained. "So the idea that I have this great husband and these three beautiful children [and] a happy home life was really something I needed to complete, to close the hole in my heart."

"And so I made a decision to make money, and not chase creative acting roles," she continued. "I don't like chasing anything ever, and acting to me, in my experience, was a lot of chasing. You've got to chase roles, you've got to beg for roles, you've got to convince people ... and although I produce and it's the same kind of thing, I think I still do it from a place of, I'm never that thirsty because I'm financially set."

Forbes ranked her eighth on the list of highest-paid actresses for 2020. The others ahead of her were Sofia Vergara, Angelina Jolie, Gal Gadot, Melissa McCarthy, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt and Nicole Kidman. Elisabeth Moss and Viola Davis rounded up the top 10.

Pompeo's performance on “Grey’s Anatomy” has earned her a Golden Globe nomination for best actress in 2007. She has nabbed several People's Choice Awards over the years as well.

Aside from "Grey's Anatomy," the Everett, Massachusetts native has also starred in the movies "Moonlight Mile," "Catch Me If You Can," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and “Daredevil.” She has also made appearances in other TV shows such as "Law & Order" and even modeled for Citibank and L'Oreal before becoming a household name.

On the personal side, Pompeo has been married to Chris Ivery since 2007. The couple has three children together.