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Shonda Rhimes: The Story

Shonda Lynn Rhimes was born on January 13, 1970, in Chicago, Illinois as the youngest of six siblings. She attended the Marian Catholic High School and then enrolled at Dartmouth College where she majored in English literature and film studies. There, she also joined the Black Underground Theater Association where she directed and performed in a student production. After college, she moved to LA to attend the University of Southern California to study screenwriting, earning her MFA. As the top student in her class, she received the Gary Rosenberg Writing Fellowship. Shonda Rhimes’ net worth and career looked promising.

After grad school, Rhimes worked several different jobs. In that period, she worked as a research director on the ‘Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream’ documentary which received the 1995 Peabody Award. She appeared as a director in the short film ‘Blossoms and Veils’. Rhimes was also a co-writer of the 1999 HBO movie ‘Introducing Dorothy Dandridge’, starring Halle Berry, which put the aspiring writer in the TV/movie world. Shonda Rhimes had her first big break with ‘Crossroads’, the debut movie of Britney Spears, which eventually grossed over $60 million. In 2004 she worked on ‘The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement’. Although the movie wasn’t as successful in the box office as its predecessor, it provided a significant experience for the young screenwriter. The first TV pilot Shonda wrote for ABC in 2003 was turned down by the network.

Rhimes finally cracked a TV show pilot that caught ABC’s attention. ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, a series that revolves around a surgical staff at a hospital in Seattle, premiered in 2005. The show has become a phenomenon, going on to its fourteenth season in 2017. ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is still one of the highest-rated shows and is considered to have a significant effect on popular culture. It has received many awards including the Golden Globe Award for Best TV Series – Drama. The series catapulted Shonda Rhimes into fame, establishing her as a serious screenwriter and executive producer. In 2007, Rhimes also created and produced its spin-off series, ‘Private Practice’. The series went on for two seasons.

Shonda Rhimes Net Worth

In 2011, ABC pitched Rhimes’ thriller-drama series ‘Scandal’. The show, starring Kerry Washington, features the life of crisis management expert, Olivia Pope. Her character is based on Washington’s press aide Judy Smith. ‘Scandal’ was named Outstanding Drama Series at the Image Awards, a TV Program of the Year by the American Film Institute, and received the Peabody Award for Excellence in TV. Its leading star received the Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series.

‘How to Get Away with Murder’ was yet another success TV series which Shonda Rhimes produced. The mystery drama, starring Viola Davis, premiered in 2014. Davis received the Lead Actress Emmy Award for her role of Annalise Keating, becoming the first African-American woman to do so. Shonda Rhimes net worth in 2014 was estimated at $60 million. In 2016, Rhimes’ comedy-drama ‘The Catch’ premiered on ABC, but it was canceled after its second season. Under the contract with ABC, Shonda Rhimes is making more than $10 million per year. Additionally, she earns hefty sums for the shows she has licensed to streaming services or internationally. According to Forbes, Shonda Rhimes’ net worth is estimated at $120 million.

Shonda Rhimes Net Worth

Shonda Rhimes inked an exclusive multi-year development deal with Netflix in 2017, and all of her future productions will be Netflix Original. The network also bought the streaming rights to ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Scandal’ episodes. The value of Shonda Rhimes’ Netflix deal is still uncertain, but reportedly, it’ll surpass $40 million. Rhimes is also the founder of Shondaland, the production company that stands behind all her shows. The star producer has published her book ‘Year of Yes: How to dance It Out, Stand in the Sun, and Be Your Own Person’.

Shonda Rhimes Net Worth & Spending Habits

The iconic showrunner is not married but has three children. Shonda Rhimes adopted two of her children and got one via surrogate. Currently, she lives in the Hancock Park neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Estimated at $8.8 million, Shonda Rhimes’ house features five bedrooms and four bathrooms, a sizeable pool and a spacious kitchen.

Shonda Rhimes Net Worth

In 2017, Shonda Rhimes also launched her digital-centric personal brand, shondaland.com, bringing her unique voice to the audience. The site includes an activism column, style, and pop culture content, as well as behind the scenes images and features of real-life women. Rhimes has been an avid advocate for women of color and participated in Dove’s campaign, ‘Real Beauty’. The writer/producer has given at least $10 million to the Smithsonian African-American museum. She has also supported several charity organizations like the Children’s Defense Fund, Elton John’s AIDS Foundation, GLSEN, and the World Food Programme.

Shonda Rhimes Net Worth: CelebJury Ruling

Shonda Rhimes’ net worth will continue to grow proportionally with her success. The superstar writer and producer has built an empire thanks to her strong characters of various minority groups and tumultuous storylines. The Thursday’s primetime conquest made Shonda a real TV queen, and we’re yet to see what she’s got to offer next. Meanwhile, check out CelebJury daily for the latest celebrity net worth news.