If you’ve spent any time following the juggernaut that is Grey’s Anatomy, you probably remember when Ellen Pompeo’s pregnancy with her first child was the biggest secret on network TV. Producers were literally layering scrubs and oversized lab coats on Meredith Grey to hide a growing bump. Fast forward to 2026, and that "secret" baby, Stella Luna Pompeo Ivery, is nearly 17 years old.
It’s wild how time works in Hollywood. One minute, she’s a toddler being spotted getting ice cream in Yorkville, and the next, she’s towering over her mother on a red carpet. Stella is the eldest of the three children Ellen shares with music producer husband Chris Ivery, and honestly, she might be the most fascinating of the bunch because she’s lived through the peak of her mom’s global fame while remaining surprisingly grounded.
Growing up in the halls of Grey Sloan (Sorta)
Stella Luna was born on September 15, 2009. For most of her childhood, her mom was the highest-paid woman on a dramatic television series. You’d think that would lead to a kid who is over the whole "hospital" vibe, but it actually did the opposite.
Back in 2015, Ellen told Ellen DeGeneres that Stella was obsessed with the medical props on set. She wasn't just playing around; she was hanging out with Linda Klein, the show’s actual medical producer. Imagine a six-year-old wanting to learn how to suture instead of playing with dolls.
"She just wants to go straight to Linda’s office and play with all the medical things," Pompeo said at the time.
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Whether that interest stuck through her teen years is something the family keeps closer to the vest now. But it’s a cool bit of foreshadowing. Most celebrity kids are trying to launch a TikTok career or a clothing line by 16, yet Stella has always seemed more interested in the "how things work" side of life.
Why Ellen Pompeo is "Super Intense" about parenting
If you think being the daughter of a TV legend means a free pass, you clearly haven't heard Ellen talk about her parenting style lately. In a 2025 interview on the Call Her Daddy podcast, Ellen was brutally honest about being a "very strict" mother.
She wasn't kidding around. She told host Alex Cooper that her kids aren't the type to be sneaking out of the house. "I am super intense," she admitted.
This intensity comes from a place of deep intentionality, though. Ellen and Chris have been very vocal about raising Black daughters (Stella and her younger sister, Sienna May) in a world that doesn't always see them. They’ve filled their home with images of powerful Black women. Kerry Washington, Michelle Obama—these aren't just names to Stella; they are the standard.
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A quick look at the Pompeo-Ivery household:
- Stella Luna (Born 2009): The eldest, a fashion-forward teen with a possible medical streak.
- Sienna May (Born 2014): Born via surrogate, she’s the middle child who apparently gave Stella a bit of "sibling shock" when she first arrived.
- Eli Christopher (Born 2016): The youngest and the only boy, often seen in rare family snaps looking like the "cool" one of the group.
That rare Hollywood Walk of Fame appearance
We don't see Stella often. Ellen is pretty protective of her kids' privacy, which is rare these days. But in April 2025, the whole family stepped out for Ellen’s Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony.
Stella stole the show. Standing next to her dad, she looked like a total mix of both parents—sporting a sophisticated polka-dot dress that signaled she’s moved way past the "daughter of" stage and into her own young adulthood.
It was a big moment for the family because it symbolized Ellen’s semi-retirement from the grueling Grey's schedule. She famously stepped back from the show to be a "professional assistant" to her kids. Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing. After twenty years of 16-hour days, she’s finally there to drive Stella to track meets or help with SAT prep.
The "Underwear" rule and Grey's Anatomy
Here’s a funny bit of trivia: Stella is actually the only one of the kids who has seen a significant amount of Grey’s Anatomy.
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Ellen has a strict rule for the younger two, Sienna and Eli. She told Jimmy Kimmel in early 2025 that she doesn't want her younger daughter seeing her "in her underwear" on TV just yet. Since the early seasons of Grey's were... well, very "early 2000s," Stella is the only one old enough to handle the mature themes of her mom’s work.
Imagine sitting on the couch and watching your mom fall in love with McDreamy. It’s gotta be weird. But according to Ellen, Stella takes it in stride. They even watched parts of it together, though Ellen admitted she didn't have the "stamina" to binge-watch the whole thing.
What's next for Stella Luna?
As Stella approaches her final years of high school in 2026, the big question is whether she’ll head toward the Ivy League or the soundstage.
She has the fashion sense for the industry—she’s been a staple at New York Fashion Week and the Emmys, often wearing coordinated outfits with Ellen. But that childhood interest in medicine hasn't totally faded from public memory.
The biggest takeaway from Stella’s upbringing isn't the fame; it's the stability. In a town where marriages last about as long as a season finale, Ellen and Chris have been together since 2003. That kind of foundation is exactly why you don't see Stella Luna in the tabloids for the wrong reasons.
Key takeaways for fans and parents:
- Privacy is a choice: Even the biggest stars can keep their children's lives relatively private if they are intentional about it.
- Representation matters at home: Ellen’s strategy of surrounding her daughters with images of successful Black women is a practical blueprint for any parent raising biracial children.
- It’s okay to pivot: Ellen’s decision to leave a multi-million dollar per year job to spend Stella's teenage years with her is a reminder that time is the one thing you can't buy back.
If you’re looking to follow more about the family, Ellen’s Instagram is the only place you'll get real updates. Just don't expect a daily vlog; she's too busy being a "strict" mom to bother with all that.