Ellen Pompeo Reflects on Pay Gap with Patrick Dempsey: “Only a Man Can Have 13 Failed Pilots and Keep Getting Paid More”

Ellen Pompeo has never been one to hold back, and her latest revelations about the glaring pay disparity she faced on Grey’s Anatomy are no exception. In a recent appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Pompeo spilled the tea on the infuriating fight for pay parity with her co-star Patrick Dempsey, exposing the deep-rooted gender bias in Hollywood.

Patrick Dempsey Was the Golden Boy Until He Wasn’t

Picture this. It’s 2005, and ABC is launching what would become one of the most iconic medical dramas of all time. While Pompeo was stepping into the lead role of Dr. Meredith Grey, Dempsey was already a Hollywood darling. With 13 pilots under his belt, his name carried weight in the industry.

“He had done 13 pilots before me. Nothing personal to him, just in general, only a man can have 13 failed TV pilots and their quote keeps going up, right?” Pompeo said, not mincing words.

And she’s not wrong. Male actors in Hollywood often enjoy endless second chances, even when their projects flop. Meanwhile, women have to be flawless to even get a seat at the table. Dempsey’s established reputation made it easier for him to command a higher paycheck, while Pompeo, despite being the literal face of the show, was expected to settle for less.

The Audacity of the Industry

Despite her role as the show’s lead and the undeniable chemistry that made Grey’s Anatomy a cultural phenomenon, Pompeo had to fight tooth and nail for her worth. Producers argued that Dempsey’s bigger name justified his inflated salary.

“He was a bigger star than I was at that point,” Pompeo admitted. “No one knew who I was. Everybody knew who he was, so he did deserve that money. I’m not saying he didn’t deserve that money. It’s just, being that I was the namesake of the show, I deserved the same and that was harder to get.”

Harder to get? That’s putting it lightly. Hollywood’s track record of diminishing female leads while glorifying male co-stars is nothing new. Even as Pompeo’s face became synonymous with the show, the resistance to paying her fairly was palpable.

Ellen Pompeo Took Matters Into Her Own Hands

But let’s be clear. Pompeo wasn’t about to sit back and play the underpaid heroine for long. By 2018, she secured one of the most impressive deals in television history.

We’re talking $20 million per year. $575,000 per episode. Equity points. Producing credits. The whole nine yards.

“I had to take control and bet on myself,” Pompeo said, a queen in every sense of the word. “If you’re going to sit around and wait for people to value you, you’ll be waiting forever.”

And she was absolutely right. Waiting for the industry to catch up would have been a losing game. Instead, Pompeo made sure her value was no longer up for debate.

Patrick Dempsey’s Paycheck Was Never the Problem

Let’s not get it twisted. Pompeo was never out to villainize Dempsey. In fact, she acknowledged that his higher pay was initially justified due to his experience. The real issue was the industry’s refusal to adjust her salary as the show’s success skyrocketed.

While Dempsey’s early fame helped boost the show, it was Pompeo’s undeniable talent that kept audiences coming back. Meredith Grey became the beating heart of Grey’s Anatomy, yet the fight for fair compensation was a constant uphill battle.

The Double Standard That Never Dies

Pompeo didn’t just stop at exposing her own experience. She used her platform to call out the broader gender-based pay disparities that plague women in every industry.

“If a man makes a lot of money, no one questions it,” Pompeo pointed out. “But if a woman makes a lot of money, suddenly it’s a scandal.”

The nerve. When men negotiate for higher salaries, they’re seen as powerful and assertive. When women do the same, they’re labeled “difficult” or “greedy.” It’s the same tired narrative, and Pompeo was done playing along.

Ellen Pompeo’s Legacy of Power Moves

Now, Pompeo stands not only as a TV legend but as a symbol of resilience and self-advocacy. Her willingness to speak out and demand what she deserves has paved the way for other women in the industry to do the same.

And if anyone still has a problem with a woman securing the bag? Pompeo’s message is crystal clear: Stay mad.

With Grey’s Anatomy still dominating as one of the longest-running dramas in television history, Pompeo’s influence remains untouchable. She didn’t just break glass ceilings; she shattered them and strutted through the rubble like the absolute boss she is.