Shonda Rhimes Biography & Net Worth

Shonda Rhimes Biography & Net Worth

Notable as a creative and talented screenwriter and producer, Shonda Rhimes is best known for creating and producing the popular television series ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ which has gone on to enjoy tremendous success. It is known to be one of the longest-running television shows in American TV history. This article features Shonda Rhimes biography and highlights of her success-accompanied career. She is noted to be one of the most accomplished and influential African–American women in the entertainment industry. In a little under twenty years, Rhimes has carved a niche for herself and has earned a reputable position as one of the most successful producers and writers in the United States.

Shonda Rhimes’ Early Life

Shonda Lynn Rhimes was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States on January 13, 1970, to Vera and Ilee Rhimes Jr. She is the youngest of her parents’ six children. She has three elder sisters and two elder brothers, and was raised in the community of Park Forest South, which is known today as University Park, in Will County, Illinois. While her father was a professor at a University, her mother was employed as a university administrator. Her father was later offered the position of chief information officer at the University of Southern California (USC), and he served in this position till 2013.

Shonda Rhimes was a student of ‘Marian Catholic High School’ in Chicago Heights. After completing her high school studies, she enrolled in ‘Dartmouth College’ and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English & film studies. During her time in college, she wrote articles for her school’s newspaper. She also directed and performed in plays as a member of Dartmouth College’s Black Underground Theater Association.

After graduating from Dartmouth College in 1991, Shonda moved to San Francisco and worked with ‘McCann Erickson’ for a brief period. Following this, she went to Los Angeles and attended the ‘School of Cinematic Arts’ at the University of Southern California where she earned her MFA degree, majoring in screenwriting. She graduated top of the class and was honored with the ‘Gary Rosenberg Writing Fellowship.’

Shonda Rhimes’ Career

Shonda Rhimes worked for the college newspaper as a student of Dartmouth College. She later interned for Debra Martin Chase, and did a number of jobs after her gradation from college.

She became the research director of the 1995 documentary ‘Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream’. She also received credit as a director for the short film ‘Blossoms and Veils’.

In 1999, Shonda became the co-writer of the film ‘Introducing Dorothy Dandridge’. Her next involvement was writing for the 2001 movie ‘Crossroads’. She later wrote for the movie ‘The Princess Diaries’ and its sequel.

In 2005, she became the creator, executive producer and writer of the popular television series ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ She also created the spin-off series of the show, titled ‘Private Practice’.

She created the TV show ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ for ABC and has signed a contract with Netflix for making films and TV shows. She is also credited as the creator of ‘Still Star-Crossed’. The acclaimed filmmaker served as the producer of the shows ‘Station 19’ and ‘For the People’ in 2018.

Shonda Rhimes is the owner of the film production company ‘Shondaland.’ Through this production house, she has made many shows for various television networks. In 2016, she published her book, titled, ‘Scoop Dreams’.

Awards & Achievements

Rhimes has received a reasonable number of award winnings and nominations in the course of her career which has now spanned nearly twenty years. Some of her most notable award winnings include the Directors Guild of America Award, GLAAD Media Awards, a Golden Globe Award, NAACP Image Awards, Writers Guild of America Award, and Producer Guild of America Awards.

Personal Life

She adopted her first daughter in 2002 and adopted a second in February 2012. In September 2013, Rhimes welcomed another girl through gestational surrogacy. She has never been married, and neither has she ever talked about matters concerning her relationships or romantic life. This woman seems to be focused on her career and expanding her reach in the entertainment industry, and her fans respect her decisions and privacy.

Shonda Rhimes Net Worth

Shonda Rhimes net worth is reported to be more than $150 million. She has achieved success in a career where she has produced many popular television shows for various networks through her own film production company Shondaland. She has written and produced a good number of TV shows and programs which have been enjoyed and liked by people across the world.

Shonda is also a successful screenwriter and author who has received many accolades. She has done projects for media houses like ABC, and entered an agreement with Netflix in 2017 to create a Netflix Original series. All these endeavors and more provide her with fat paychecks and a salary that caters for her luxurious lifestyle. Her four-year deal signed with Netflix in 2017 is reportedly worth $100 million. Her fortune has been enhanced by her years at ABC with the numerous shows she has created. She gets a fee for each episode she creates, and also earns a significant percentage of the profit whenever her shows were sold to streaming services or syndicated.

Shonda Rhimes is one of the most famous and accomplished television writers and producers in the world. She has created several hit series which have been telecasted around the world. She spends her money on several costly homes and properties which she owns, including a Tudor-style home in Hancock Park worth $4.6 million, a duplex just west of Hancock Park worth more than $2 million, a Mediterranean villa she bought for $8.8 million in 2014, and an 8,292-square-foot mansion she acquired in 2010 for the sum of $5.6 million.