Who is Chris Ivery? Ellen Pompeo’s husband who skipped watching 'Grey’s Anatomy'

Chris Ivery is a music producer and fashion executive with ties to Rihanna and Sergio Tacchini.

Ellen Pompeo may have spent nearly two decades starring as Meredith Grey in Grey’s Anatomy, but her husband, Chris Ivery, never became a fan of the show. The music producer and fashion executive has built a successful career of his own while keeping a low profile in Hollywood.

Despite Grey’s Anatomy making Pompeo one of TV’s highest-paid actresses, Ivery never watched the hit medical drama. “Chris really never watched the show,” Pompeo admitted, explaining that it helped keep their personal life separate from her on-screen romance with Patrick Dempsey’s character, Derek Shepherd. “It was better for him,” she added.

Ivery has spent years in the music industry, with his most notable credit as a songwriter on Rihanna’s 2010 hit Cheers (Drink to That). He later transitioned into fashion, becoming the chief executive of lifestyle marketing for Sergio Tacchini, an Italian sportswear brand with celebrity fans like Justin Bieber and Jay-Z.

The couple’s love story began in an unexpected place—a grocery store. They met in 2003, and after a rocky start, they tied the knot in 2007 in an intimate ceremony at New York City Hall, with then-mayor Michael Bloomberg as a witness. They now share three children: daughters Stella Luna and Sienna May, and son Eli Christopher.

Photo: Dolce & Gabbana

Pompeo and Ivery have kept their relationship private, but the actress has spoken out about the challenges they faced, including media scrutiny over their interracial marriage. “The racial component of our relationship was really something he never asked for,” she said, recalling the harsh public attention they received.

Despite the challenges, their bond remains strong. While Pompeo built a legendary TV career, Ivery found success in music and fashion—without ever watching the show that made his wife a household name.