A closer look at the biggest achievements of Ellen DeGeneres. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.
Ellen DeGeneres is an American former comedian, actress, television host, writer, and producer. She gained prominence in the 1990s with her sitcom "Ellen," known for its groundbreaking coming-out episode. From 2003 to 2022, she hosted the widely popular daytime talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," which was known for its comedic segments, celebrity interviews, and charitable giveaways. The show received numerous Emmy Awards. While celebrated for her contributions to entertainment and LGBTQ+ visibility, DeGeneres's career has also faced controversy, particularly allegations of a toxic workplace environment on her talk show.
In 1996, Ellen DeGeneres hosted the Grammy Awards.
In April 1997, Ellen DeGeneres publicly came out as a lesbian on the cover of Time magazine with the headline "Yep, I'm gay" and became the first openly gay lead character on an American network television show.
In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres hosted the Grammy Awards for a second time.
On November 4, 2001, Ellen DeGeneres hosted the televised broadcast of the Emmy Awards, which were presented after two cancellations due to network concerns following the September 11 attacks. Her performance, which required a more somber tone, received several standing ovations.
In November 2004, Ellen DeGeneres appeared, dancing, in an ad campaign for American Express.
In August 2005, it was announced that Ellen DeGeneres would host the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, held on September 18, 2005.
On September 18, 2005, Ellen DeGeneres hosted the 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony. This was her second time hosting the Emmys following a national tragedy, three weeks after Hurricane Katrina.
On September 7, 2006, Ellen DeGeneres was chosen to host the 79th Academy Awards ceremony, marking her the first openly gay person to host the event.
In November 2006, Ellen DeGeneres's most recent American Express commercial, a two-minute black-and-white spot in which she works with animals, debuted. It was created by Ogilvy & Mather.
On February 25, 2007, Ellen DeGeneres hosted the 79th Academy Awards ceremony, becoming the first openly gay person to host the event.
In 2007, the American Express commercial featuring Ellen Degeneres won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial.
In August 2008, Ellen DeGeneres married actress Portia de Rossi at their home in Beverly Hills, California, following the overturn of the same-sex marriage ban in California.
In 2009, Ellen DeGeneres was named "Woman of the Year" by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for her advocacy.
In 2012, Barack Obama held the retweet record for his presidential election victory until the selfie taken by Ellen Degeneres during the academy awards.
On August 2, 2013, it was announced that Ellen DeGeneres would host the Academy Awards for a second time on March 2, 2014.
On March 2, 2014, Ellen DeGeneres hosted the Academy Awards for the second time.
In 2015, Ellen DeGeneres was named the 50th-most-powerful woman in the world by Forbes.
In 2016, Ellen DeGeneres received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
As of May 2017, the selfie orchestrated by Ellen DeGeneres during the 86th Academy Awards broadcast is the fifth-most retweeted tweet ever, with over 3.4 million retweets.
In 2020, Ellen DeGeneres received the Carol Burnett Award for her contributions to television.
In 2020, Forbes estimated Ellen DeGeneres's earnings at US$84 million.
In May 2025, Ellen DeGeneres was listed in the Sunday Times Rich List with a net worth of £363 million.
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