Ellen Pompeo, the iconic star of Grey’s Anatomy, knows exactly what she’s doing when it comes to her career trajectory on the record-breaking medical drama. After nearly two decades of playing Meredith Grey, Pompeo’s role in the series shifted beginning with Season 19 in 2022, as she took on a more scaled-back presence. Despite this, Pompeo remains an integral force at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital, and she knows why.

The Financial and Emotional Reason to Stay

Pompeo, 55, opened up in an interview with El País, revealing that leaving the show would make no sense emotionally or financially. She explained, “The show was streamed more than a billion times in 2024. More than a billion times.” The actress emphasized the significant financial impact of her presence on the show: “The companies that own the show and stream it make a lot of money from our images and our voices and our faces.”

Pompeo made it clear that if she were to completely leave the show, everyone else would continue profiting from her hard work over the past 20 years, while she would be left out of the financial rewards. She continued, “If I were to walk away completely, everybody gets to make money from my hard work for 20 years and I wouldn’t make any money.”

Gratitude for Grey’s Anatomy

Pompeo’s comments underscore the emotional connection she has to Grey’s Anatomy, which has become a cultural touchstone over the years. She expressed a sense of gratitude toward the series: “Emotionally, the show means a lot to people. I want to have an attitude of gratitude toward the show.” It’s clear that despite her reduced role, Pompeo feels deeply connected to both the fans and the legacy of the show.

A Negotiated Deal and Financial Success

Pompeo’s role in the series has evolved over time, particularly after negotiating a $20 million deal in 2017, which made her the highest-paid actress on TV at the time, earning $575,000 per episode. Reflecting on this monumental negotiation, Pompeo shared that she felt “really tired” and wanted to make sure her time away from her family was compensated at a level that felt worthwhile.

She told PEOPLE at the time, “If I’m going to stay, I’m away from my kids a lot, it’s really got to be worth my while. I have to break some glass ceiling to have it worth it for me to stay.” It was clear that financial security and career fulfillment were key drivers in her decision to remain on the show.

Respect for Shonda Rhimes and the Business Side

Pompeo also revealed how she navigated her salary negotiations with Shonda Rhimes, the Grey’s Anatomy creator. On the Call Her Daddy podcast, Pompeo explained, “I said to her, ‘I’m going to go in and ask for this much, are you cool with that?’” She added that she wanted to make sure she was not being disrespectful to Rhimes and appreciated how she was supported through the process. “I want to let her know what moves I’m making because I do respect her. I am grateful to her,” Pompeo said.

The “Disney Princess” of Grey’s Anatomy

In her discussion of the negotiation process, Pompeo referred to herself as the “Disney princess” of the long-running series. She emphasized that her role in the show was backed by data, making her confident in her request for compensation. “I have this sort of data to back [it] up, I know the show generated this much money. I definitely deserve a percentage of that,” she stated.

What’s Next for Meredith Grey?

Despite Season 19 being Pompeo’s reduced presence on the show, where she appeared in only eight episodes, Meredith Grey will return in Season 20 and Season 21, with Pompeo set to appear in at least seven episodes. Fans of Grey’s Anatomy can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Meredith Grey will remain a part of the series for at least a few more seasons.

Grey’s Anatomy airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, and it’s clear that Ellen Pompeo’s presence—emotionally and financially—is still very much integral to the future of the show.

Will Meredith’s departure from Grey Sloan be final, or does Pompeo have even more surprises in store for the fans? Stay tuned.