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Ellen Pompeo, the iconic star of Grey’s Anatomy, may not be appearing in every episode anymore, but she’s made it clear she has no plans to walk away from the show entirely. Pompeo, 55, has played the beloved Meredith Grey since the show first premiered in 2005, and while she scaled back her role in Season 19, she’s still actively involved, and there’s a solid reason for it.
In a recent interview with El País, Pompeo explained that leaving the show completely wouldn’t make sense for her, both emotionally and financially. She revealed that in 2024 alone, the show was streamed more than a billion times, and with so much money being made from her image, voice, and likeness, it wouldn’t make sense for her to step away. “If I were to walk away completely,” she said, “everybody gets to make money from my hard work for 20 years, and I wouldn’t make any money.”
Pompeo also expressed how much the show still means to her and to the audience. She acknowledged that Grey’s Anatomy holds a deep emotional connection for its fans and said she feels grateful for the opportunity the show has given her over the years.
While Meredith Grey left Seattle in Season 19, Pompeo made her return in Season 20 and is set to appear in at least seven episodes of Season 21. Her screen time has been reduced as she worked on her Hulu project, Great American Family, but she’s remained closely involved with the long-running ABC series.
Pompeo made headlines in 2017 when she negotiated a whopping $20 million deal, making her the highest-paid actress on television at the time. In an interview with PEOPLE, she mentioned that the job had to be worth it, especially since it took her away from her family for long periods. She also emphasized that such a deal was necessary to break barriers and be fairly compensated for her role in the show’s success.
In a March episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Pompeo shared that before negotiating her salary, she had an important conversation with show creator Shonda Rhimes. She made sure Rhimes knew about her plans to ask for a specific amount, wanting to ensure that it wouldn’t seem disrespectful. Pompeo expressed how much she valued Rhimes’ support throughout the process.
Referring to herself as the “Disney princess” of Grey’s Anatomy, Pompeo was aware of how much revenue the show has generated over the years. She even mentioned that she had the data to back up her claims and firmly believed she deserved a fair share of the show’s success.
Pompeo has made it clear that while her role on Grey’s Anatomy may be changing, she’s still very much a part of the show’s ongoing journey—and she’s not going anywhere without ensuring she’s getting her fair share of the profits.