Shonda Rhimes
Earned: $81m
The American showrunner, screenwriter, and author made history in 2017 when she signed a deal worth $100 million with Netflix, putting her among the first showrunners to sign an exclusive show deal with the streaming platform. She earlier signed a four-year contract (already terminated) with ABC worth $10 million each year. She is the creator and executive producer of many television hits, including Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal. She is the Founder and owner of Shondaland, an American television production and storytelling company.
