Pay Scale of Five Biggest TV Series of All Time | How Much These Actors Got Paid?

The amount that actors are paid for appearing in a TV series depends on several factors, which include the popularity of the show, the actor's experience and celebrity status, the budget of the production, and the specific terms of the actor's contract. 

For a lead or main cast member on a popular and successful network or streaming series, the average salary can range from $100,000 to $1 million per episode. For supporting or guest stars, the pay scale can be much lower, ranging from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars per episode. 

Keep in mind that these figures are just estimates and the actual salaries can be significantly higher or lower, depending on the individual circumstances of the actor and the show. Additionally, some actors may receive additional compensation in the form of a share of the show's profits or income for reruns.

Five Most Financially Successful TV Series

"The Big Bang Theory" - This popular sitcom is reported to have earned over $1 billion in syndication deals alone. 

"Friends" - The beloved 1990s sitcom continues to be a major source of revenue for its creators and stars, with lucrative syndication deals and a popular streaming presence on platforms like Netflix. 

"Game of Thrones" - The fantasy epic was one of the most watched and highly anticipated shows on television during its eight-season run, and its success has translated into significant financial rewards for its cast and crew. 

"The Simpsons" - With over 700 episodes and counting, this long-running animated series is one of the most successful and lucrative franchises in television history. 

"Modern Family" - The popular mockumentary-style sitcom was a critical and commercial success during its 11-season run, earning several awards and millions of dollars for its cast and crew. 

How Much These TV Series Actors Were Paid?

Now, let's discuss the pay scale that actors from these TV Series actors were paid.

Big Bang Payment

The main casts of the Big Bang Theory, including Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, and Melissa Rauch, were some of the highest-paid television actors during the duration of the show. 

During the final seasons of the show, the main cast was earning around $1 million per episode. This was a result of negotiations that took place during the show's eighth season when the cast members threatened to go on strike if they did not receive a pay increase. 

These figures represent a small fraction of the overall earnings generated by this show, which was one of the most popular and sitcoms in television history. The success of The Big Bang Theory has made its cast members some of the wealthiest actors in Hollywood.

GOT payment

The cast of "Game of Thrones" was also among the highest-paid television actors during the run of the show. The main cast members, including Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, earned between $500,000 and $1.5 million per episode in later seasons. 

The success of "Game of Thrones" has made many of its cast members wealthy in Hollywood, with some going on to star in other successful film and television projects. 

Friends

The cast of the popular sitcom "Friends" was also among the highest-paid television actors during the run of the show. Let's look at their pay scale.

Jennifer Aniston (Rachel Green): 
Starting salary: $22,500 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $1 million per episode in seasons 9 and 10 

Courteney Cox (Monica Geller): 
Starting salary: $22,500 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $1 million per episode in seasons 9 and 10 

Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay): 
Starting salary: $20,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $1 million per episode in seasons 9 and 10 

Matt LeBlanc (Joey Tribbiani): 
Starting salary: $22,500 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $1 million per episode in seasons 9 and 10 

Matthew Perry (Chandler Bing): 
Starting salary: $22,500 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $1 million per episode in seasons 9 and 10 

David Schwimmer (Ross Geller): 
Starting salary: $22,500 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $1 million per episode in seasons 9 and 10 

These salaries of friends stars were very high for the time, and the "Friends" cast remains one of the highest-paid actors' groups in television history. 

Modern Family

The main cast of the popular television series "Modern Family" also received huge salaries as the show became increasingly successful. Here's an overview of the actors' salaries throughout the show's 11-season run: 

Ed O'Neill (Jay Pritchett): 
Starting salary: $105,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $500,000 per episode in seasons 8-11 

Sofia Vergara (Gloria Pritchett): 
Starting salary: $65,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $325,000 per episode in seasons 8-11 

Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy): 
Starting salary: $65,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $325,000 per episode in seasons 8-11 

Ty Burrell (Phil Dunphy): 
Starting salary: $65,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $325,000 per episode in seasons 8-11 

Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett): 
Starting salary: $65,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $325,000 per episode in seasons 8-11 

Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker): 
Starting salary: $65,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $325,000 per episode in seasons 8-11 

Sarah Hyland (Haley Dunphy): 
Starting salary: $15,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $100,000 per episode in seasons 8-11 

Ariel Winter (Alex Dunphy): 
Starting salary: $15,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $100,000 per episode in seasons 8-11 

Nolan Gould (Luke Dunphy): 
Starting salary: $15,000 per episode in season 1 
Final salary: $100,000 per episode in seasons 8-11

The Simpsons

The main cast of the popular television series "The Simpsons" has become one of the longest-running and most successful television series of all time. Here's an overview of the actors' salaries throughout the show's 32-season run: 

Dan Castellaneta (Homer Simpson, Grampa Simpson, Krusty the Clown, etc.): 
Starting salary: $30,000 per episode in the 1990s 
Final salary: $400,000 per episode in 2020 

Julie Kavner (Marge Simpson): 
Starting salary: $30,000 per episode in the 1990s 
Final salary: $400,000 per episode in 2020 

Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, etc.): 
Starting salary: $30,000 per episode in the 1990s 
Final salary: $400,000 per episode in 2020 

Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson): 
Starting salary: $30,000 per episode in the 1990s 
Final salary: $400,000 per episode in 2020 

Hank Azaria (Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief Wiggum, etc.): 
Starting salary: $30,000 per episode in the 1990s 
Final salary: $250,000 per episode in 2020 

Harry Shearer (Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Waylon Smithers, etc.): 
Starting salary: $30,000 per episode in the 1990s 
Final salary: $400,000 per episode in 2020 

The salaries of The Simpsons actors were one of the highest paid in 90s.

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