This is a list of people starring on American television that are the highest-paid, based on verified sources for each person.
TV and streaming salaries per episode
Name
|
Program
|
Role
|
Salary
|
Inflation Adjusted
|
Year
|
Ref.
|
Sarah Jessica Parker
|
Sex and the City
|
Carrie Bradshaw
|
$3.2 million
|
$5,327,000
|
2001–2004
|
[1]
|
Jennifer Aniston
|
The Morning Show
|
Alex Levy
|
$2 million
|
$2,460,000
|
2019–
|
[2][3]
|
Reese Witherspoon
|
Bradley Jackson
|
Charlie Sheen
|
Two and a Half Men
|
Charlie Harper
|
$1.8-2 million
|
$2,516,000
|
2010–11
|
[4]
|
Ray Romano
|
Everybody Loves Raymond
|
Raymond Barone
|
$1.725 million
|
$2,737,000
|
2003–05
|
[5]
|
Kelsey Grammer
|
Frasier
|
Frasier Crane
|
$1.6 million
|
$2,664,000
|
2002–04
|
[6]
|
Chris Pratt
|
The Terminal List
|
James Reece
|
$1.4 million
|
$1,701,000
|
2022–
|
[7]
|
Tim Allen
|
Home Improvement
|
Tim Taylor
|
$1.25 million
|
$2,359,000
|
1998–99
|
[4]
|
Jerry Seinfeld
|
Seinfeld
|
Jerry Seinfeld
|
$1 million
|
$1,929,000
|
1997–98
|
[8]
|
Helen Hunt
|
Mad About You
|
Jamie Buchman
|
$1 million
|
$1,888,000
|
1998–99
|
[9]
|
Paul Reiser
|
Paul Buchman
|
Jennifer Aniston
|
Friends
|
Rachel Green
|
$1 million
|
$1,665,000
|
2002–04
|
[10]
|
Courteney Cox
|
Monica Geller
|
Lisa Kudrow
|
Phoebe Buffay
|
Matt LeBlanc
|
Joey Tribbiani
|
David Schwimmer
|
Ross Geller
|
Matthew Perry
|
Chandler Bing
|
James Gandolfini
|
The Sopranos
|
Tony Soprano
|
$1 million
|
$1,516,000
|
2006–07
|
[11]
|
Kaley Cuoco
|
The Big Bang Theory
|
Penny
|
$1 million
|
$1,310,000
|
2015–17
|
[12]
|
Johnny Galecki
|
Leonard Hofstadter
|
Jim Parsons
|
Sheldon Cooper
|
Nicole Kidman
|
Big Little Lies
|
Celeste Wright
|
$1 million
|
$1,230,000
|
2019
|
[13]
|
Reese Witherspoon
|
Madeline Martha Mackenzie
|
Jeff Bridges
|
The Old Man
|
Dan Chase
|
$1 million
|
$1,215,000
|
2021–
|
[7]
|
Sarah Jessica Parker
|
And Just Like That
|
Carrie Bradshaw
|
$1 million
|
$1,160,000
|
2021–
|
[1]
|
Simon Helberg
|
The Big Bang Theory
|
Howard Wolowitz
|
$900,000
|
$1,127,000
|
2017-19
|
[14]
|
Kunal Nayyar
|
Raj Koothrapali
|
Roseanne Barr
|
Roseanne
|
Roseanne Conner
|
$875,000
|
$1,754,000
|
1996-97
|
[15]
|
John Goodman
|
Roseanne/The Conners
|
Dan Conner
|
$860,000
|
$1,754,000
|
1996-97; 2019-
|
[16]
|
Ashton Kutcher
|
Two and a Half Men
|
Walden Schmidt
|
$755,000
|
$989,000
|
2014
|
[4]
|
Drew Carey
|
The Drew Carey Show
|
Drew Carey
|
$750,000
|
$1,249,000
|
2001–04
|
[4]
|
David Hyde Pierce
|
Frasier
|
Niles Crane
|
$750,000
|
$1,249,000
|
2004
|
[17]
|
Lauren Graham
|
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
|
Lorelai Gilmore
|
$750,000
|
$983,000
|
2016
|
[18]
|
Alexis Bledel
|
Rory Gilmore
|
Bryan Cranston
|
Your Honor
|
Michael Desiato
|
$750,000
|
$911,000
|
2019–2020
|
[7]
|
Hugh Laurie
|
House
|
Dr. Gregory House
|
$700,000
|
$959,000
|
2011–12
|
[19]
|
Andrew Lincoln
|
The Walking Dead
|
Rick Grimes
|
$650,000
|
$814,000
|
2017–18
|
[20]
|
Kate Winslet
|
Mare of Easttown
|
Mare Sheehan
|
$650,000
|
$790,000
|
2019–2020
|
[7]
|
Jon Cryer
|
Two and a Half Men
|
Alan Harper
|
$620,000
|
$822,000
|
2013–15
|
[21]
|
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
|
Seinfeld
|
Elaine Benes
|
$600,000
|
$1,157,000
|
1997–98
|
[4]
|
Jason Alexander
|
George Costanza
|
Michael Richards
|
Cosmo Kramer
|
Eric McCormack
|
Will & Grace
|
Will Truman
|
$600,000
|
$936,000
|
2005–06
|
[22]
|
Debra Messing
|
Grace Adler
|
Megan Mullally
|
Karen Walker
|
Sean Hayes
|
Jack McFarland
|
Steve Martin
|
Only Murders in the Building
|
Charles-Haden Savage
|
$600,000
|
$729,000
|
2020–
|
[7]
|
Martin Short
|
Oliver Putnam
|
Gillian Anderson
|
The First Lady
|
Eleanor Roosevelt
|
$600,000
|
$729,000
|
2021–
|
Viola Davis
|
Michelle Obama
|
Michelle Pfeiffer
|
Betty Ford
|
Pedro Pascal
|
The Last of Us
|
Joel Miller
|
$600,000
|
$729,000
|
2021–
|
Ellen Pompeo
|
Grey's Anatomy
|
Meredith Grey
|
$575,000
|
$707,000
|
2005–
|
[23]
|
Alec Baldwin
|
Dr. Death
|
Robert Henderson
|
$575,000
|
$699,000
|
2020–2021
|
[7]
|
Norman Reedus
|
The Walking Dead
|
Daryl Dixon
|
$550,000
|
$689,000
|
2017–18
|
[20]
|
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
|
Veep
|
Selina Meyer
|
$500,000
|
$749,000
|
2019
|
[24]
|
Sofía Vergara
|
Modern Family
|
Gloria Pritchett
|
$500,000
|
$615,000
|
2009–2020
|
[25]
|
Television hosts
Simon Cowell
Ellen DeGeneres, host of the eponymous The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Network primetime salaries per season
Daytime annual salaries
News presenters
References
- ^ a b "You Truly Won't Believe How Much Money the Cast of 'And Just Like That...' Is Making". Cosmopolitan. June 29, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
- ^ Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston Finally Give Us a Peek at The Morning Show. W. 25 March 2019.
- ^ Inside Apple's Long, Bumpy Road to Hollywood. ‘’The Hollywood Reporter’’. 16 October 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "The Highest Paid TV Actors Of All Time Per Per Episode - UPROXX". UPROXX. August 5, 2014.
- ^ "For $50 Mil, Producers Love Raymond". PEOPLE.com.
- ^ "Kelsey Grammer: NBC's $1.6 Million Man". PEOPLE.com.
- ^ a b c d e f Schneider, Michael; Otterson, Joe (August 18, 2021). "Streaming Boom Keeps TV Salaries at Heady Levels: Here's What Kate Winslet, Jason Sudeikis and More Are Earning". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ Fahey, Mark (May 31, 2015). "Seinfeld's per-line payday". CNBC.
- ^ Flint, Joe (April 10, 1998). "Helen Hunt and Paul Riser get a raise". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ Carter, Bill (June 11, 2004). "The fame and fat paycheck from Friends--$1.25 million per episode last season". The New York Times. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Mahan, Colin (July 5, 2006). "Sopranos actors end pay dispute". TV.com. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ "Big Bang Theory Actors Set to Earn $1 Million an Episode".
- ^ Apple shelling out millions for TV talent reportedly helped Reese Witherspoon triple her salary on season 2 of HBO's 'Big Little Lies'. Business Insider. 17 January 2018.
- ^ "Why the 'Big Bang Theory' Stars Took Surprising Pay Cuts". The Hollywood Reporter. March 29, 2017.
- ^ "What is Roseanne Barr's Net Worth?". May 29, 2018.
- ^ "What is Roseanne Barr's Net Worth?". May 29, 2018.
- ^ Acuna, Kirsten (September 25, 2012). "The Highest-Paid Actors On TV This Fall". Business Insider. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ "Salaries of TV's Top Talent Revealed". October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (February 13, 2012). "The Real Story Behind House's Cancellation". TV Guide. Archived from the original on January 30, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley (November 17, 2016). "Robert De Niro's Making How Much?! TV Is Becoming an ATM for Top Talent". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
- ^ Balloni, Matthew (May 1, 2013). "'Two and a Half Men': Jon Cryer Gets a Raise, Ashton Kutcher Doesn't". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
- ^ "Report: 'Will & Grace' to return in '06". Today.
- ^ "Ellen Pompeo Reveal's Why She Stayed on Grey's Anatomy".
- ^
You Know Julia Louis-Dreyfus Could Be a Billionaire in Her Lifetime? You Do Now. 23 July 2023.
- ^ "The Highest-Paid Actresses 2020: Small Screen Stars Like Sofia Vergara, Ellen Pompeo and Elisabeth Moss Shine". Forbes.
- ^ a b "Britney Spears signs onto 'X-Factor': Highest paid stars on TV". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- ^ Burgos, Jenzia (September 20, 2021). "Ariana Grande Is the Highest-Paid Coach in 'Voice' History—Here's Her Salary & Net Worth". Yahoo!. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ Wallenstein, Andrew (May 30, 2017). "Paying Katy Perry Top Dollar Doesn't Make Sense for 'American Idol'". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- ^ Elliott, Hannah (May 16, 2012). "The Real American Idol: How J.Lo Got Her Mojo Back". Forbes. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
- ^ Aguilera sources:
- ^ a b Maloney, Devon (July 24, 2012). "Mariah Carey's $18 Million 'Idol' Deal: How Does it Measure Up to Stars' TV Paydays?". Spin. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- ^ a b c Maglio, Tony; Waxman, Sharon (March 25, 2016). "'Voice' Judge Shakeup: Miley Cyrus and Alicia Keys to Join, Pharrell Williams to Exit Next Season (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- ^ Rushfield, Ricchard. "Idol Terror - Is Seacrest Out? An Ankler Special Report". The Ankler. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- ^ Buchanan, Kyle (September 19, 2012). "How Much Will Shakira Make for The Voice?". Vulture. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ Gerencer, Tommy (November 28, 2016). "How Much Money Do The Voice Coaches Make?". MoneyNation. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
- ^ Soghomonian, Talia (June 1, 2013). "Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey quit 'American Idol'". NME. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- ^ "TV Personalities". CBC News. July 25, 2007. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
- ^ "TVs Highest Paid Star? Judge Judy (by a mile)". newser.com. August 22, 2013.
- ^ "Barbara Walters". Forbes.com. June 14, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
- ^ "Spotlights Monologues extended". Toronto Star. January 30, 2001. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
- ^ Starr, Michael (May 2, 2002). "Stays for Another 'Day'". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
- ^ Durden, Douglas (September 14, 2006). "'Today' gives new host a very warm welcome". Richmond Times.[dead link]
- ^ "Vieira chosen as Couric's 'Today' successor". NBC. April 7, 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
- ^ Carter, Bill (December 20, 2001). "Katie Couric Signs NBC Contract Said to Be Largest in TV News". The New York Times. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
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