As the push for increased equality continues throughout Hollywood, several celebrities with same-sex orientations now carry on their relationships openly without fear of any backlash. One of the most foremost amongst them is the duo of Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. At some point in their respective careers, both ladies had to hide their true selves in order to avoid any adverse effects. They later boldly came clean and are all the better for it.
From stand-up comedy, DeGeneres has become an acclaimed actress and producer as well as the host of one of the most popular talk shows in the world. She now commands eight-figure paychecks and consistently ranks amongst the highest-earning celebrities in the world. While De Rossi is yet to reach such heights, she has nevertheless built a respectable career for herself; featuring in several hit TV series and founding her own art company.
Who is Richer Between Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi?
DeGeneres is the wealthier partner with a net worth of $370 million. Some sources even estimate her fortune to be as high as $500 million, but the former figure seems to be more reliable. The ace talk show host started as a standup comedian in New Orleans in the 80s. From there, she landed a hugely popular sitcom, Ellen, which ran from 1994 to 1998. With the dawn of a new millennium, DeGeneres parlayed her unbeatable sense of humor into an eponymous daytime talk show. The Ellen DeGeneres Show debuted in 2003 and has remained on air to date. It has taped thousands of episodes and has welcomed numerous celebrity guests. It is now one of the most-watched shows globally, and its host accordingly commands a handsome paycheck.
It is estimated that Ellen DeGeneres earns from $50 – $70 million a year from the show (her contract includes 60% of profits from advertising, carrying fees, and product placement). She then compliments her income through other creative pursuits. DeGeneres is a budding actress and voice actress and her credits include the Finding Nemo franchise. She is also the producer of TV series such as Little Big Shots and Splitting up Together and reportedly earns eight-figures for her work. Ellen also pocketed $20 million for her 2018 Netflix standup special, Relatable. She is also the founder of a lifestyle brand that features accessories, apparel, shoe, pet, and baby items. The brand is carried by several stores, including PetSmart and Bed, Bath and Beyond.
On the other hand, Ellen DeGeneres’ spouse, Portia de Rossi, has a net worth of $50 million. She primarily draws her fortune from an acting career that has been quite lucrative on the small screens. De Rossi has featured in numerous TV series over the years, including Ally McBeal, Scandal, Better off Ted, and Nip/Tuck. She also played the unforgettable role of the narcissistic and spoilt rich girl, Lindsay Bluth Fünke, on the American television sitcom, Arrested Development. Her stint on the show lasted for several years, a time during which she featured in no less than 70 episodes. She and other cast members earned from $25,000 to $100,000 per episode depending on whether they had top billing.
Portia De Rossi has largely stepped back from acting and her new adventure is in the art world. The actress, who is a budding artist herself, has founded an art curation and publication company known as General Public. The company seeks to enhance access to artworks for members of the public whilst helping artists make good money from their creations. General Public launched in 2018 and De Rossi is the founder and the CEO of the trailblazing company.
There is a 15-Year Age Difference Between The Couple
Ellen DeGeneres is not only way richer than her spouse, Portia de Rossi, but she is also way older. The popular talk show host was born on the 26th day of January 1958 which makes her about 15 years older than De Rossi who was born on the 31st day of January 1973.
While DeGeneres is American and grew up in places such as Louisiana and Texas, De Rossi hails from Australia and grew up in the city of Victoria. Thanks to her natural good looks, De Rossi did some TV commercials and print ads as a child. She did not ignore her studies though and even made it to law school. The young lady later dropped out, having discovered the joys of acting, making her debut in a 1994 film titled Sirens. As De Rossi was taking her first professional steps as an actress, DeGeneres was busy lunching the Ellen sitcom that would make her a household name.
DeGeneres and De Rossi Started Dating in 2004 and Tied the Knot in 2008
Even though Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi started going out in 2004, they first met each other in the year 2000. There was instant chemistry on both sides but they didn’t act on it for different reasons. The talk show host was dating photographer Alexandra Hedison while De Rossi was still very much in the closet. The actress knew that dating the “world’s most popular lesbian” would burst her bubble and so she decided to leave things alone. She couldn’t get the comic out of her mind, although by the following year, she commenced a relationship with singer Francesca Gregorini.
De Rossi’s romance with Gregorini would last for about four years during which it was pretty fulfilling in all ramifications. That, however, did not stop the actress from pinning for Ellen and so when they ran into each other in 2004, all those feelings came rushing back to the surface. According to the actress, Ellen literally took her breath away, and she knew that she just couldn’t let such type of love walk away without experiencing it. She walked up the courage to break up with Francesca, and Ellen did likewise with Hedison. They then promptly commenced a relationship in 2004.
The couple would move in together in 2005 before tying the knot three years later in 2008. Their wedding took place at their home in Beverly Hills, California, with family members in attendance. De Rossi was 35 years of age at that time while DeGeneres was 50. The couple have now been together for more than a decade and maintain a strong and exemplary relationship. There have been no reports of trouble in their paradise and the rumored divorce turned out to be nothing more than just rumors.
De Rossi has described their romance as one that is peaceful, respectful, and loving. According to her, they have a lot in common and share the same outlook in life. She also doesn’t feel alone for the first time in her life. DeGeneres shares the same sentiments. In the words of the talk show host, Portia understands her completely, loves her for everything that she is, supports her, and makes her very happy. It should be pointed out that De Rossi legally changed her name to Portia Lee James DeGeneres in 2010 but still goes by Portia de Rossi professionally.
A Quick Comparison of the Famous Couple
| Ellen DeGeneres | Portia de Rossi | |
| Age | 66 | 51 |
| Height | 5 feet 7 ½ inches (1.71m) | 5 feet 8 inches (1.72m) |
| Birthname | Ellen Lee DeGeneres | Amanda Lee Rogers |
| Birthplace | Metairie, Louisiana | Victoria, Australia |
| Net Worth | $370 million | $50 million |
| Notable Movies | Finding Nemo and Finding Dory | The Night We Called It Day, Sirens |
| Notable TV Shows | Ellen and the Ellen DeGeneres Show | Ally McBeal, Arrested Development, and Better Off Ted. |
| Awards | Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding talk show host (4x), Carol Burnett Award for outstanding contributions to television on or off the screen. | 2004 Golden Satellite Award for best actress in a series (comedy or musical). |
