Producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes not only has paved the way for inclusive storytelling in films and television series, but she has also curated an impressive bicoastal real estate portfolio.
Rhimes, a native of Chicago, got her start in the 1990s as a screenwriter for films such as “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,” “Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement” and “Crossroads.” However, Rhimes’ big break came in 2005 with a show she created for ABC called “Grey’s Anatomy.” It became a huge hit. She’s gone on to produce shows such as “Scandal,” “Bridgerton,” “Inventing Anna” and “Queen Charlotte.” In addition, she also has published “Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person.” All this work has netted her an estimated worth of $160 million.
While many of her properties have been located in the Hancock Park section of Los Angeles, Rhimes has also branched out to the East Coast. Here’s a look at Rhimes’ real estate portfolio:
First Foray into Hancock Park
In 2007, two years after “Grey’s Anatomy” premiered, Rhimes launched a spinoff, “Private Practice.” In that same year, she purchased a residence in the Hancock Park section of Los Angeles for $1.66 million. The residence featured two three-bedroom units on a half-acre lot filled with greenery.
Rhimes Expands Her Portfolio with A Renovated Mansion
Three years later, Rhimes purchased another property in Hancock Park. This time, she purchased a 1920s mansion complete with six bedrooms, six full bathrooms and three half bathrooms for $5.6 million. She sold the property in 2019 for $7.16 million.
In 2014, Rhimes purchased another home in Hancock Park for $8.8 million. The 8,400-square-foot home was built by architect Elmer Grey, who also designed the Beverly Hills Hotel. Yet Rhimes wanted this home to be different from the others.
“I very much wanted a home that not only felt like a home for real family life but functioned like one as well,” Rhimes told Architectural Digest in an interview. “I thought, ‘What is the point of a house my kids can’t be themselves in?’ ”
With the success of series such as “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder” Rhimes was ready to truly invest in a property. She hired architect Bill Baldwin and designer Michael S. Smith to renovate the residence. The residence was expanded to 12,000 square feet, which included seven bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, two kitchens and a guest house.
Yet by 2021, Rhimes was ready to move on and placed the home on the market for $25 million. In January 2022, the home sold for $21 million — a sales record for the Hancock Park neighborhood.
A Corporate Switch and Yet Another Hancock Park Flip
In 2017, Rhimes continued her Hancock Park takeover while securing a multiyear deal with Netflix. She purchased an English Manor-style residence for $4.6 million. Built in 1924, the 4,895-square-foot home featured five bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms. It also included a fountain, gardens, a swimming pool and a guesthouse.
Rhimes renovated the home and sold the property for $5.95 million in January.
Expanding To The East Coast
When Rhimes was looking for an apartment in New York City, it seems she wanted to invest in a sanctuary. And in 2018, she got one with the purchase of a Park Avenue penthouse.
“I knew that I would know it when I saw it, and then I literally walked into this apartment. It was smaller than some of the places that I looked at, but I knew immediately,” Rhimes told Architectural Digest. “It has this wraparound terrace, and the light coming in was incredible. It felt like a place where, even though you’re in the middle of a city, you feel like you’re in your own little refuge.”
The $11.75 million penthouse was designed by her favorite designer, Michael Smith. Smith incorporated elements of the hit series “Bridgerton” into the space, including Chinese-style wallpaper and gilt-wood mirrors.
Heading North to New England
For Rhimes’ latest purchase, she remained on the East Coast. Keeping up with the need for a sanctuary, she purchased an estate in Westport, Connecticut, for $15.17 million.
Built in 2008, the 38,000-square-foot home includes 11 bedrooms, 12 full bathrooms and three half bathrooms. There’s also a movie theater, tennis court, swimming pool complete with a waterslide and spa, an arcade, bowling alleys, a basketball pavilion and an ice cream parlor. Finally, the main house includes an attached one-bedroom apartment and a guest house.
