Shonda Rhimes Net Worth

Renowned television writer and producer Shonda Rhimes is best known for creating the hit TV drama series Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and Bridgerton.

As of 2022, Shonda Rhimes net worth is estimated to be roughly $140 million dollars.

Childhood

Shonda Lynn Rhimes was born in Chicago on January 13th, 1970. She is the last born of six children and attended high school at Marian Catholic where she worked as a hospital volunteer.

Personal Life

In 2002, Rhimes adopted her first daughter. She welcomed her second daughter via adoption in 2012, and her third daughter via surrogate in 2013.

Career Beginnings

After graduating college with a degree from Dartmouth College majoring in studying film (and graduating top place), Shonda landed in Hollywood working for several advertising agencies before enrolling to pursue her master’sdegreeat at the University of Southern California(USC) School Of Cinematic Arts. It wasn’t long after moving out west that this creative genius discovered new talent around town: becoming one-half of “The Package” production company alongside childhood friend Nick Wrightsman who had also gone through MFA programs there.

After she graduated from USC, Rhimes was unemployed for some time. However, she eventually got started on the documentary “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream”(1995) which received critical acclaim winning the Peabody Award in 1995.

Rhimes wrote the screenplay for “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”, “Crossroads,” Britney Spears’ debut film, and “The Princess Diaries: Royal Engagement”.

Hit TV Shows and Movies

Shonda’s first TV pilot was rejected by ABC, but she got a second chance when they asked her to create a show called “Grey’s Anatomy.” Since then the show has aired for 19 seasons (with a 20th season coming soon). She executive produced the show from 2005 to 2017. The show has been on for 17 years, and it’s one of the longest-running shows in TV history.

The show spanned some successful spin-offs such as “Private Practice” and “Station-19”.

Her next big success came in 2012 when she created, executive produced and wrote the political drama series “Scandal,” which ran for seven seasons and earned her many primetime Emmy nominations.

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In 2014 Rhimes created another hit show – the legal thriller “How to Get Away with Murder” starring Viola Davis as a fierce defense attorney. This show was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series.

In 2021, Rhimes created and executive produced the period drama “Bridgerton” based on Julia Quinn’s romance novels. The show has become a huge hit and is among Netflix’s top-rated series of all time. As part of her Netflix four-year deal she also executive produced “Inventing Anna” based on how Anna Delvey scammed her away among New York’s elite.

Her shows have launched the careers of some of the top Hollywood stars, including Kerry Washington, Sandra Oh, Katie Lowes, and Ellen Pompeo.

Production Company

In 2018, Rhimes founded her own production company, Shondaland. The production company is affiliated with ABC Studios and Netflix. Through the partnership with Netflix, Rhimes has produced and/or written a variety of shows including “Bridgerton,” “Still Star-Crossed,” “For the People” and “Notes on Love.”

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Accolades and Awards

Shonda Rhimes has won numerous awards in her career, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series for “Grey’s Anatomy” In 2007. She also received a Golden Globe nomination for the same show.

In 2016 Rhimes was honored with the Television Showman of the Year award by the Producers Guild of America. She was also named by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World and in 2017 she was honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame for her contributions to television.

In 2019, Rhimes received an honorary degree from Dartmouth College–the same place where it all started for her.

She has won Emmy awards for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series and Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. She has also won Golden Globe awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Directors Guild of America Awards.

Rhimes’ success is largely due to her hard work, resilience, and creativity.

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Best Selling Books

Rhimes has also written several books. The most successful ones are her humorous memoir, “Year of Yes,” which was a New York Times best-seller and received critical acclaim; and her novel, “The Warmth of Other Suns,” which chronicles the life of three African-American women during the Great Migration in the early 20th century.

So How Much Made Has Shonda Rhimes Made?

Rhimes reportedly earned $10 million a year from ABC, in addition to the fees she received for each show. Plus, at least ten percent of the profit from her three successful series was syndicated or sold to streaming services (like Netflix) for about $1 million an episode.

In 2017 Rhimes decided to end her $10 million base salary contract with ABC Studios early for a more profitable four-year deal with Netflix. It is noted that under the new agreement, all of Rhimes’s upcoming productions will be Netflix Original series. Not only that but the streaming giant bought the U.S. streaming rights to all past episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal before negotiating this most recent deal.

Philanthropy

Rhimes is also a philanthropist and has founded The Rhimes Family Foundation which provides scholarships to young people who want to pursue careers in the arts and sciences. She also created The Rhimes Family Foundation, which donates money to organizations that focus on education and health care. 

Real Estate

Rhimes is no stranger to the high-end real estate market. She’s been snapping up luxe properties in Los Angeles and beyond for years, with her most recent sale setting a record price tag in Hancock Park. The nearly 100-year-old home sold for an impressive $21 million, after Rhimes had purchased it in 2014 for a comparatively modest $8.8 million and put in the work to renovate it to its original grandeur.

But her real estate investments don’t end there – Rhimes has also managed to make quite a profit from other homes she’s owned over the years. For example, in 2010 Rhimes purchased a home in Hancock Park for $5.6 million, and a decade later it was sold again at the remarkable price of $7.16 million, suggesting a nice profit of over $1.5 million in between sales.

Currently, she resides in a swanky New York apartment that was featured in Architectural Digest in early 2022

What’s Next For Shonda Rhimes?

Shonda Rhimes is currently developing a string of new television projects and films. Rhimes signed an exclusive deal with Netflix and recently announced her first project under the agreement, “Reset: My Fight for Inclusion and Lasting Change” which is based on the memoir by Ellen Pao. She also has a new drama series in the works titled “Sunshine Scouts” which follows a group of young girls on an outdoor adventure.

Rhimes continues to build her empire, and it appears that she’s far from done! She is not only a successful creator but also a philanthropist, real estate investor, and role model for aspiring creators. We can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

As of 2022 Shonda Rhimes’s net worth is at an estimated $140 million. Rhimes is undoubtedly one of the most successful and influential creators in recent TV history.