How Much Money Ellen Pompeo Will Lose Walking Away From Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy doesn't really need any introductions at this point, does it?
The staple drama, now in its 19th season, is literally part of the thing that defines network TV right now. It's only logical to assume the series' cast is very well paid for their job. And oh yes, they are.
At the top of the list is of course the leading lady herself Ellen Pompeo, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey. According to Forbes, she earns an impressive $550,000 per episode as a result of her contract's renegotiation back in 2017, along with another six to seven million dollars each year as her part of the syndication profits.
A really steep amount that is.
Former cast member Sandra Oh, who played Dr. Cristina Yang, earned $350,000 per episode, while current stars James Pickens, Jr. and Chandra Wilson bring in $125,000 each per episode.
Former series regular Patrick Dempsey, who played Dr. Derek Shepherd, earned $400,000 per installment.
Despite the impressive salaries, Ellen Pompeo has announced that she will be leaving the show after the current season. Walking away from a paycheck of over half a million dollars per episode may seem like a difficult decision, but Pompeo has said that she is ready to move on and pursue other projects.
So, let's divulge ourselves in counting a rich person's money. How much money will Ellen Pompeo lose by walking away from Grey's Anatomy?
Assuming she was earning $575,000 per episode (her exact number per episode were a bit higher considering all the extra work), she could potentially be leaving behind around $11.5 million for the final season alone.
And since she won't be getting those contractual bonuses anymore, she'll be missing out on millions more each year.
Of course, it's likely that Pompeo has made enough money over the years to live comfortably without the need for a regular paycheck.
And with her talent and star power, she'll likely have no trouble finding new opportunities once Grey's Anatomy is over for her.