Kaley Cuoco – $24.5 million
Although Sheldon Cooper is arguably the main character in The Big Bang Theory, there’s no doubt about the fact that Penny also plays a huge part in the success of the show. Kaley Cuoco is well paid for bringing more fans to the show, and in 2014 it was confirmed that Cuoco was being paid a whopping $1 million per episode! Although this current season will be the cast, Kaley can rest easy knowing that she earned a huge $24.5 million in 2018 alone. We don’t think she’ll have any problems with money anytime soon.
Ellen Pompeo – $23.5 million
Ellen Pompeo first made her way into the acting world in 1995, and she has since worked her way up the ladder to become one of the most successful television actresses in the world. This quite literally paid off for Ellen in 2017, when she signed a $20 million contract with the American Broadcasting Company that kept her within their ranks for a whole year. Since 2005, Ellen has worked on the popular ABC medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy. As one of the most successful shows in the US, her $23.5 million payout shouldn’t be surprising.
Mayim Bialik – $12 million
Of course, Melissa Rauch isn’t the only TBBT member to walk away with a few more dollars in their pocket. Mayim Bialik is a fan favorite on the show, and her intelligence has impressed those around the world. This intelligence is even more impressive when you realize she is has a PhD in neuroscience herself! After taking a break away from acting to earn her doctorate, Mayim came back with a (big) bang and earned a cool $12 million in 2018. Couple that with her book deals and her other business ventures and you have one rich lady.
Pauley Perrette – $8.5 million
There’s a high chance you’ve seen Pauley Perrette on your screens before. Yes, you can’t turn on your television without seeing an NCIS spinoff or three, and Pauley has certainly made her mark. Although she’s been acting since 1994, she truly rose to fame when she was given a chance to play Abby Sciuto in police drama NCIS. She’s since worked on the likes of NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans. While she decided to leave the show, she’s been able to bag a huge payout. In fact, she earned a whopping $8.5 million in 2018 alone.
Claire Danes – $9 million
Claire Danes is a huge name, and this actress has worked on both movies and television shows over the course of her career. While many fans will know her for starring alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in the romantic drama Romeo + Juliet, there are others who will know her as Carrie Mathison in the drama series, Homeland. She’s not only won numerous awards for this role, but has also earned a huge amount of money. During its 8-year run, Claire’s taken home a small fortune – but 2018 was her best year by far, earning $9 million.
Julie Bowen – $12.5 million
If you’re a fan of the popular sitcom, Modern Family, you’ll know that Julie Bowen is kind of a big deal. This actress has made a name for herself as Claire Dunphy, and has provided the matriarch we all need in our lives for a whole decade! She has won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, but that isn’t the only payout she has received from this role. In 2018 alone, she was able to add $12.5 million to her bank account thanks to the Modern Family crew.
Mariska Hargitay – $13 million
Crime dramas are always going to be popular with fans at home, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is no different. Mariska Hargitay has worked on this show since 1999, and her role as Olivia Benson has earned her legendary status within the cast. Because she has worked on the show for so long and is so popular with the fans, she has been respectfully paid for this. In 2018, she was paid $13 million to continue this role and to continue impressing her fans. Of course, she couldn’t say no.
Marcia Cross – $400,000 per episode
Although these women have all earned a huge amount in 2018 alone, there are many other actresses who have earned a huge amount over the course of their careers. With her fiery red hair and her equally fiery personality, Marcia Cross rose to fame during her time on the drama series, Desperate Housewives. With an all-star cast, it’s fair to say that Marcia was working alongside the best – and she was paid accordingly. In fact, she was paid an incredible $400,000 per episode over the course of its run.
Alexis Bledel – $750,000 per episode
Alexis Bledel is one of the coolest chicks around, and we have her to thank for bringing Rory Gilmore into our lives. When Gilmore Girls came to an end after seven seasons in 2007, fans weren’t quite ready to say goodbye to Rory and her awesome mom. So, they were offered the chance to take part in a four-episode mini-series where they could tie up some loose ends and give their fans the ending they deserved. Amazingly, they received $750,000 per episode for Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
Helen Hunt – $1 million per episode
During the 1990s, Helen Hunt was one of the most famous women in the world. That was all thanks to her role within the sitcom, Mad About You. Helen starred alongside Paul Reiser for this role, and it became hugely successful. Because so many people wanted the show to continue, producers did everything they could to keep both of the lead actors in their roles. This meant that Helen was walking away with $1 million in her pocket for each episode she filmed. That’s not too bad, is it?
Nicole Kidman – $1 million per episode
Most of us recognize Nicole Kidman for all kinds of reasons. The actress has appeared in a huge range of films and TV shows, including the western series ‘Five Mile Creek,’ the superhero movie ‘Aquaman,’ and the drama film ‘Strangerland.’ However, it’s her time in the drama series ‘Big Little Lies’ that is now earning Nicole $1 million per episode. When she’s not playing Celeste Wright on our screen, Nicole works behind the scenes as the executive producer of the show.
Lauren Graham – $750,000 per episode
The comedy-drama show ‘Gilmore Girls’ was such a hit that it was brought back to life in 2016 for a Netflix special. The series ran for seven seasons until it came to an end in 2007, but it is still far from being forgotten. Lauren Graham was one of the stars of the show as she brought the character Lorelai Gilmore to life. All of her hard work meant that Lauren was walking away with $750,000 per episode as a result.
Robin Wright – $9 million
While it’s not known exactly how much Robin Wright earned in 2018, she did make her way into the top 10 highest paid actresses of 2017 – and her career has gone from strength since then. In 2017, she earned a whopping $9 million thanks to her role as Claire Underwood in the political drama, House of Cards. Although this show has since taken a tumble due to the controversy surrounding one of its main characters, it was confirmed that Robin was earning a whopping $500,000 per episode. While it seems as though she is now making her mark in the movie world, her television career will remain legendary for the rest of her life.
Emmy Rossum – $350,000 per episode
American adaptations of British TV shows haven’t always gone down well. That’s where ‘Shameless’ stepped in. The comedy-drama show was a huge hit and has produced ten seasons so far, with the final set to air sometime in Fall 2020. The show follows the lives of the Gallagher family and their struggles to make ends meet. Fiona is the eldest of the children and is played by Emmy Rossum. The character now earned Emmy an impressive $350,000 per episode.
Eva Longoria – $325,000 per episode
Eva Longoria is a talented actress who seems to be at home on the small screen. The actress has appeared in a host of shows. However, many of us still recognize Eva for her starring role in ‘Desperate Housewives.’ Here, she played Gabby Solis for all eight seasons. Eva often had starring storylines and even earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for her character. Thankfully, Eva was one of the few that earned $325,000 per episode by the time the show came to an end.
Priyanka Chopra – $10 million
Priyanka Chopra seems to have a perfect life. Just check out the photos of her wedding to Nick Jonas! With countless talents on her resume, Priyanka has the pleasure of calling herself Miss World 2000, an actress, a singer, a model, and a philanthropist. From 2015 until 2018, she took on the role of Alex Parrish in the popular thriller series, Quantico, and it’s safe to say that this show, and Priyanka herself, was a hit with fans. How big of a hit? Well, in 2017 she walked away with a cool $10 million.
Kerry Washington – $11 million
Kerry Washington has really come into her own over the last few years, and it’s safe to say that she’s now one of the most famous women in the world. Although she has been in the limelight since the mid-’90s, her crowning glory came in 2012 when she was offered the chance to become Olivia Pope in the drama Scandal. Thanks to this role, Kerry Washington has been nominated for numerous awards, including an Emmy. As if that wasn’t cool enough, she also took home a whopping $11 million from this show in 2018 alone.
Jennifer Aniston – $2 million per episode
Many of us have fallen for Jennifer Aniston over the years thanks to the incredible number of hit shows and movies she has appeared in throughout her career. Jennifer shot to fame thanks to her time in the sitcom ‘Friends’ that debuted back in 1994 and ran for ten successful years. However, it’s her recent project that has seen Jen go down as one of the highest-paid TV actresses of all time. The web series ‘The Morning Show’ hit our screens in November 2019 and became an instant success.
Melissa Rauch – $12 million
It’s no secret that the cast of the sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, are paid well for their time and their talent. As one of the most successful television shows on the air, the iconic cast are given every incentive to stay – and Melissa is no different. While she doesn’t earn as much as her co-star, Kaley Cuoco, she still earns a hefty fortune. While playing Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz in 2018, Melissa was rewarded with a $12 million paycheck. Considering she was a late addition to the show, that’s pretty impressive.
Sofia Vergara – $42.5 million
According to Forbes, Sofia Vergara takes the crown for the sixth year in a row as the highest paid TV actress in the world. That’s pretty impressive! Over the years, Sofia has worked on numerous television shows. However, she is now largely known for her recurring role as Gloria Pritchett in the sitcom, Modern Family. While she shares the screen with Julie Bowen, there’s no doubt about who earns more in this family. In 2018 alone, Sofia had the pleasure of walking home with a whopping $42.5 million in her very large pockets!
Sophie Turner – $200,000 per episode
Sophie Turner may be one of the most talked about women in Hollywood thanks to her wedding with Joe Jonas and her role as Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones, but her net worth and salary are widely debated – specifically because she was a minor when the show started so it wasn’t revealed. Some say she made as much as $200,000 per episode of GoT, while others say she was making $1 million. As for her net worth, it’s been reported to reach anywhere from $3 million to $18 million.
Reese Witherspoon – $2 million per episode
Reese Witherspoon has all kinds of talents under her belt. She has starred in a host of movies, worked on TV shows, and has even worked as a producer for many productions. Reese and Jennifer Aniston got the chance to act together then they appeared in ‘Friends’ together. The pair are back at it again thanks to ‘The Morning Show’ that sees the two women take home $2 million per episode. The show has been such a success that it’s been nominated for and won a host of awards already. Who knows what the future could bring?
Lena Headey – $1 million per episode
Let’s face it; the fantasy drama series ‘Game of Thrones’ will forever go down as one of the biggest hit shows of all time. People were on the edge of their seats as each new season took to the air, with the final being one of the most anticipated – and disappointing – of them all. The show helped to pave the way for many stars, including Lena Headey. The actress played the starring role of Cersei Lannister and used to take home $1 million per episode for her work.
Emilia Clarke – $2.7 million per episode
Let’s be honest; Game of Thrones is arguably one of the most impressive television shows of the decade. George R.R Martin’s book series has been brought to life by HBO, and it’s become a fan favorite over the course of its run. Although the storyline itself has captivated audience members, the cast have also won over those at home. In fact, Emilia Clarke has become so successful; showrunners offered her more money to stay on. During season eight, the Mother of Dragons was paid a whopping $2.7 million per episode.
Mindy Kaling – $13 million
Mindy Kaling is the kind of woman who can do anything. She is a comedy genius, she’s an acting legend, and she’s even produced her own shows. Is she perfect in every way? We think so. Over the years, Mindy Kaling has impressed fans across the world with her role in her own comedy show, The Mindy Project. When that came to an end in 2017, she started working on a new sitcom, entitled Champions. Thanks to her role as a recurring cast member, writer, and producer, Mindy has had an extra $13 million to play with.
Sarah Jessica Parker – $1 million per episode
There have been all kinds of romantic drama shows over the years, but many have struggled to make an impact as significant as ‘SATC.’ The show was such a success that it led to two movies and a lifetime of love from dedicated fans. Sarah Jessica Parker played the lead of the show, Carrie Bradshaw, and earned herself a cool $1 million per episode. The show ran for 94 episodes, and we bet Sarah’s bank account is still feeling the benefit, even if ‘SATC’ ended back in 2004.
Jennifer Aniston (again) – $1 million per episode for Friends
Remember the time when ‘Friends’ was everywhere you turned and people couldn’t help but talk about the show? Wait, that hasn’t come to an end? There are plenty of reasons that the sitcom has been so popular over the years. Even though Jennifer Aniston was still new to the world of acting, she was able to earn $1 million an episode for her time as Rachel Green. There are rumors that the show might have run for longer, but Jennifer wanted to branch out into movies, meaning the series came to an end.
Courteney Cox – $1 million per episode
There have been plenty of relatable TV characters over the years. Monica Geller is the clean demon that many of us have lurking inside. Courteney Cox was the woman behind the star and played Monica for ten seasons in ‘Friends.’ The stars of the show all earned $1 million per episode for the last few years of the show. Courteney already had a budding career under her belt thanks to her appearances in the likes of the slasher movies ‘Scream,’ but ‘Friends’ took it to a new level.
Lisa Kudrow – $1 million per episode
The third and final highest-earning actress of all time from ‘Friends’ is none other than Lisa Kudrow. Just like Jennifer and Courteney, Lisa was earning $1 million per episode by the time the show came to an end. Lisa is another star that already had a successful acting career to her name before the show. In fact, Lisa’s role as Ursula from the sitcom ‘Mad About You’ even made an appearance in ‘Friends.’ Phoebe and Ursula were twin sisters, but double the work sadly didn’t mean double the pay.
Reese Witherspoon (again) – $1 million per episode for Big Little Lies
It must be tiring working on all of these hit TV shows at once, right? Reese Witherspoon appears to be a busy actress as she is also starring in ‘Big Little Lies.’ The show focuses on a group of women who are caught up in a police investigation. The show has been such a success that it’s been nominated for 16 Primetime Emmy Awards – and taken home an impressive eight so far. With a leading cast like this, we’re not sure that we’re surprised.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – $600,000 per episode
There have been many arguments about what the best sitcom of all times could be. Some people argue that it’s ‘Friends.’ Others think it could be ‘The Big Bang Theory.’ However, there was one setting the trend first. That’s right; we’re talking about ‘Seinfeld.’ The series first debuted in 1989 and ran for almost ten years until it came to an end. Julia Louis-Dreyfus played Elaine Benes on the show, where she took home $600,000 per episode for her work.
Zooey Deschanel – $125,000 per episode
Another sitcom that left its mark on the world was ‘New Girl.’ The show premiered back in 2011 and ran for seven seasons until the final season aired in 2017. The show followed the life of Jess as she moves in with three male housemates. The female teacher was played by Zooey Deschanel, who took home $125,000 per episode. Thankfully, the show was a huge hit and was even named as one of the best new comedies when it first aired.
Lea Michele – $1.6 million
There was once a time when any hit song was taken and transformed into a brand new number thanks to the glee club from the aptly named ‘Glee.’ The musical comedy covered a host of songs, including ‘Don’t Stop Believin’’ and ‘Take a Bow.’ Lea Michele played Rachel Berry on the show and earned a whopping $1.6 million for one season of the show. This meant the actress was taking home $80,000 per episode, all thanks to her acting and singing talents.
Jane Lynch – $1.6 million
Every show needs a villain, and Jane Lynch was the one to bring them to life on ‘Glee.’ She played Sue Sylvester, the cheerleading coach at the school. However, she was the club’s arch-nemesis and would do anything to make sure her team won. Although she was supposed to be the mean one of the show, Jane Lynch earned a host of fans thanks to her role – and $1.6 million a season. We think it’s fair to say that playing the villain does sometimes pay.
Cobie Smulders – $225,000 per episode
The sitcom ‘How I Met Your Mother’ was the show that many of us needed when it first aired in 2005. Nine years and nine seasons later and the show sadly came to an end. Thankfully, it left plenty of memorable characters in its wake. Cobie Smulders was one of the many actresses in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ as she took on the part of Robin. Robin’s love life became one of the main talking points of the show and earned Cobie $225,000 per episode.
Alyson Hannigan – $225,000 per episode
There were plenty of loveable characters in ‘How I Met Your Mother,’ with Lily just one more to add to the list. Lily was a kindergarten teacher and best friends with Robin. She married Marshall at the start of the show, and their romance became a strong aspect of the series. Being such a massive part of the show meant that Alyson was greeted to some pretty welcomed bonuses, including $225,000 per episode. Thankfully, it looks as though Lily won’t be forgotten any time soon.
Anna Paquin – $275,000 per episode
Many actresses dream of the day they are cast as the leading character of a show. Thankfully, Anna Paquin knows what that feels like thanks to her time in the fantasy horror show ‘True Blood.’ Here, she played the lead of Sookie Stackhouse. ‘True Blood’ followed the story of a town where vampires could walk the earth. Getting caught up in a vampire relationship and having to fight to survive meant that Anna walked away with $275,000 per episode.
Amy Poehler – $200,000 per episode
It can be easy to fall for satire sitcoms, especially when they come in the form of ‘Parks and Recreation.’ The TV show followed a group of people working in the Parks Department of a fictional town and featured some huge names in the cast. Amy Poehler was one of the many. Amy played the part of Leslie Knope, the star of the show. She was such a hit, and the show was so successful that Amy ended up earning $200,000 per episode of the show.
Patricia Heaton – $235,000 per episode
It can be tough to create a sitcom that stands the test of time. However, the creators of ‘The Middle’ were onto something as the show lasted an impressive nine years before it came to an end. It featured everything that we needed. A dysfunctional family? Hilarious moments? A loveable cast? ‘The Middle’ had it all. Patricia Heaton played Frankie Heck on the show and was the star of the series. Acting and narrating the show meant that Patricia earned $235,000 per episode.
Emily Deschanel – $250,000 per episode
There have been plenty of crime procedural shows over the years. However, ‘Bones’ still managed to stand out from the rest. The show ran for 12 seasons and churned out an impressive 246 episodes before it came to an end. Emily Deschanel wasn’t just the star of the show – she also produced the series. Emily played the part of Bones in all seasons of the show and earned a whopping $250,000 per episode. $5.5 million a year is no laughing matter.
Sandra Oh – $350,000 per episode
Medical drama ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ has been running for a number of years. It first hit our screens back in 2005 and has been there ever since. Sandra Oh played the character Cristina Yang for the first ten seasons of the show. She started out as a surgical intern before working her way all the way up to a cardiothoracic surgeon before she left the show. The surgeon ultimately takes a job in Switzerland, meaning Cristina – and Sandra – walked away from a $350,000 per episode role.
Winona Ryder – $350,000 per episode
The sci-fi drama ‘Stranger Things’ took over the world, but it has done more than just that over the years. It has also seen Winona Ryder step back into the spotlight. She is arguably the most famous of the cast and is paid accordingly. It’s reported that Winona earned $100,000 per episode in the first season of the show. However, that has since gone up to $350,000 per episode, meaning she took him $2.8 million for her work in the third season.
Millie Bobby Brown – $350,000 per episode
Millie Bobby Brown is the face of Eleven in the show ‘Stranger Things’ and has become a household name thanks to the series. Many of the children in the show used to earn just $20,000 during the first season as the cast were all paid in tiers. However, her popularity and growth of skills mean that Milly has seen quite the pay rise. There have been many reports about how much the star earns, with some stating that it could be up to $350,000 per episode.
Teri Hatcher – $325,000 per episode
‘Desperate Housewives’ was the mystery TV show that many of us loved to love. Sure, we might not know what it’s like to be a housewife living in the suburbs, but we know that it’s filled with drama. That is if this show is anything to go by. Teri Hatcher was one of the many leading women in the show. The actress played the role of Susan Delfino throughout all eight seasons and was greeted to $325,000 per episode by the final season.
Felicity Huffman – $325,000 per episode
Lynette Scavo went through a lot during her time in ‘Desperate Housewives’ and still came out fighting on the other side. The character was one of the few that made it through all eight seasons and was surrounded by her growing family in the finale. The show’s creator, Marc Cherry, said that he based Lynette’s family on his own childhood. The character was brought to life by Felicity Huffman, who also got to take home $325,000 per episode in the eighth season.
Laura Linney – $300,000 per episode
‘Ozark’ might only be a few years old, but it has already grown to become a huge hit. The crime drama is shown on Netflix, where it has been given a huge budget and all-star cast. Netflix loves to pump its all into an original creation. Laura Linney has stepped into the role of Wendy, the wife and mother on the show. While the family might be caught up in a money-laundering scheme in ‘Ozark,’ Laura is doing just fine in real life thanks to the $300,000 she takes home for every episode.
Elisabeth Moss – $200,000 per episode
The tragedy series ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is based on a book released by Bruce Miller back in 1985. It follows a world that has been struck by another war and led to a shift in social classes and laws. Plus, some women have been captured as only a few can have children. Elisabeth Moss plays June Osborne – or Ofjoseph – in the show, one of the many women that have been captured. She might have to go through a lot on the show, but Elizabeth has an easier time in real life by earning $200,000 per episode.
Caitriona Balfe – $100,000 per episode
The historical drama ‘Outlander’ is one of the many shows that is based on a series of novels. Claire Fraser is one of the many characters in the show. At the beginning of it all, Claire is a World War II nurse. However, she soon finds herself transported back to 1743, where she must try and figure out how to get back. All of that time traveling sounds like hard work, so it might be no surprise that actress Caitriona Balfe earns $100,000 per episode for her time as Claire.
Mandy Moore – $85,000 per episode
One of the great things about TV shows is there are so many on the market. ‘This Is Us’ debuted back in 2016 and quickly took a spot in the comedy-drama series hall of fame. It’s been nominated for a host of awards over the years. It follows the lives of “The Big Three” – three triplets – and their family as they learn how to cope with the passing of their father. Mandy Moore is the woman behind their mother. Rebecca Pearson. She is such a hit that Mandy takes home $85,000 per episode.
Debra Messing – $250,000 per episode
Of course, the stars of the sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory’ take home the top spot for earning the most in a comedy series. However, Debra Messing isn’t far behind the stars. The actress appears in the sitcom ‘Will and Grace.’ Here, she earns a whopping $250,000 per episode for her work. Debra is one of the stars, Grace, who works as an interior decorator in the series. She had a special place for both food and Will in her heart and became a huge hit among fans.
