It certainly pays to be a doctor, but how much does it pay to be in the medical field on television? Fans of the long-running ABC drama Grey’s Anatomy are curious about just how much their favorite TV doctors take home per episode. As you can imagine, Ellen Pompeo and the rest of the gang, including alums Patrick Dempsey, Jessica Capshaw and Katherine Heigl, made bank from their time on the show. Thanks to each actor’s whopping salary, they all have stunning net worths!
After joining Grey’s in 2005, Ellen had a good reason for why she remained on the medical drama for so long. “My decision to stay on was based solely on age. At 33, I was wise enough to know my clock was already ticking in Hollywood,” she once told People. “I thought, ‘Why would I leave something that is super successful and pays me great to search the landscape?’ I decided that I would stay on Grey’s and be grateful and try to ride it out for as long as I could. And I am very happy that I made the decision to stay. It’s only gotten better with time.”
A lot has happened to Ellen since she first took on the role of Dr. Meredith Grey. In 2007, the Daredevil actress got married to her husband, Chris Ivery, and welcomed their first child, daughter Stella, together in 2009. After that, they had two more kids, Eli and Sienna, in 2014 and 2016. But despite all of her life’s changes, Ellen remained on Grey’s until November 2022. She announced her departure from the show in a sentimental Instagram post after the season 19 finale aired.
“I am eternally grateful and humbled by the love and support you have all shown me, Meredith GREY and the show for 19 seasons!” theLaw & Order actress penned. “Through it all….none of it …would have been possible without the best fans in the world. You all are RIDERS and you all have made the ride so fun and ICONIC!!”
Ellen, as well as Patrick, Jessica and Katherine, aren’t the only ones who became familiar faces on the beloved series. Throughout the years, Grey’s fans have said “hello” and “goodbye” to plenty of big stars, including Jesse Williams. Jesse’s exit from Grey’s, which came after 12 seasons, was announced in May 2021.
Fortunately, fans were in for an exciting surprise when Kate Walsh announced she was set to reprise her role of Addison Montgomery. The actress revealed the news on the show’s Twitter account in September 2021, marveling over how thrilled she was to make her “grand return” to Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
“Well, well, well. Would you look who it is? That’s right, my loves, doctor Addison Montgomery is coming back,” Kate stated in a video, saying she’s “so excited to be home again” with Shonda Rhimes, Ellen and “the rest of the incredible cast.” The Private Practice alum told fans to “wait until you see what [Addison] has in store for you.”
Scroll through the gallery below to find out the individual net worths of the biggest Grey’s stars!
FAQs
Ellen Pompeo has made some serious bank from her nearly two decade long run as the titular character Grey's Anatomy. The actress has reportedly made a whopping $U80 million (approx. $123.3 million) from the series. Pompeo was even listed on Forbes' highest earning actress list in 2020.
Who got paid the most on GREY's anatomy? ›
Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey)
In 2017, after her costar Patrick Dempsey left Grey's Anatomy, Pompeo signed a new deal that paid her $575,000 per episode or around $20 million per season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
How much does Katherine Heigl make per episode? ›
However, as the show's popularity grew and its budget increased, Heigl's salary also increased, eventually reaching over $350,000 per episode. The production budget of a show can also impact an actor's salary indirectly.
How much would Meredith Grey get paid? ›
While some doctors may earn more due to leadership positions, others prioritize passion for medicine over high salaries. Characters like Meredith Grey and Cristina Yang have lucrative careers, making over $800,000 annually as Head of General Surgery.
What was Derek Shepherd's salary? ›
As you may have guessed, the salary of a neurosurgeon is pretty high, which makes Shepherd the highest paid Grey's Anatomy character at $320,731. Actor Patrick Dempsey also takes home the highest of the show's TV star salaries, earning $225,000 per episode.
What is Alex Karev's net worth? ›
Alex Karev is the doctor we all love to hate and from the way he left us all reeling after he left the show, fans are undecided. Justin Chambers was a model before he starred on Grey's Anatomy and he has an estimated net worth of $18 million.
How rich is Addison Montgomery? ›
Addison is the daughter of wealthy parents and has a $25 million trust fund. Addison's father is nicknamed "The Captain" and is a doctor who teaches medicine at a university where Addison would sit and watch as a child.
How much did Sandra Oh make on GREY's anatomy? ›
How Much Did Sandra Oh Earn On 'Grey's Anatomy'? Celebrity Net Worth claims that Oh's salary was an estimated $350,000 per episode, which means that she earned roughly $8.4 million each season (assuming that she appeared in every episode). Oh played the ambitious surgeon, Cristina Yang, for over 10 seasons.
How much was Shonda Rhimes paid for GREY's anatomy? ›
According to Forbes, in the early seasons of Grey's Anatomy, Rhimes made $30,000 per episode for writing and producing the series. By 2021, that ballooned to a whopping $250,000 per episode.
How much money did Izzie inherit? ›
Upon his death, Izzie becomes the sole beneficiary of Denny's will, inheriting $8.7 million. She uses the money to open a free clinic at the hospital: the Denny Duquette Memorial Clinic.
What Did Patrick Dempsey Make for Grey's Anatomy? Meanwhile, The Hollywood Reporter claims when Patrick was written off the show in 2015, he was actually earning around "$400,000 an episode—or roughly $9.6 million for a 24-episode season of the drama."
How much money has GREY's Anatomy made? ›
She told The Hollywood Reporter, "Grey's has generated nearly $3 billion for Disney. When your face and your voice have been part of something that's generated $3 billion for one of the biggest corporations in the world, you start to feel like, 'OK, maybe I do deserve a piece of this.
Is Callie Torres rich in GREY's anatomy? ›
Callie comes from a wealthy family, although she's not always forthcoming with those details since she wants to forge her own path without help from her parents.
How rich was Jackson Avery? ›
Jackson comes from a hugely affluent family. He had been left a staggering $250 million dollars after the passing of his grandfather, Harper Avery.
Which surgeon makes the most money? ›
Neurosurgery is the highest-paying medical job in the US. That's hardly surprising, seeing that neurosurgeons are also the most trained medical staff. They study for at least 15 years to gain extensive expertise in the nervous system, spinal cord, and brain.
What is Callie Torres's net worth? ›
9 Sara Ramirez (Callie Torres): $5 Million
They went on to star on a few other shows, like “Madam Secretary” and the animated show “Sofia the First.”
Who got $15 million in Grey's Anatomy? ›
During Thursday's “The End is the Beginning is the End” episode, Meredith, Derek, Cristina, Arizona and Callie learn that they won the lawsuit — and are awarded $15 million each — that will be paid from the pocket of the hospital's insurance company.
Is Callie Rich GREY's anatomy? ›
Callie comes from a wealthy family, although she's not always forthcoming with those details since she wants to forge her own path without help from her parents.
Is Jackson Avery rich in GREY's anatomy? ›
Following the death of his grandfather, Jackson inherited a quarter billion dollars.
