How much do top stars in Hollywood earn in a single TV show? In today’s era of rapid development and fierce competition among various industries, celebrity names have become a vital factor in attracting audiences to different television programs. With at least 50 production companies producing TV shows, the competition has escalated, leading to a continuous increase in star salaries.
Star salaries in TV shows can vary widely, ranging from $1.1 million per episode for main characters in “Game of Thrones” to $20,000 per episode for supporting roles, like those in “Empire.”
Below is a list of the highest-paid stars in television:
Note: The amounts listed are per episode and include production costs as well as profit-sharing.
$1,100,000 – Kit Harington, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$1,100,000 – Emilia Clarke, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$1,100,000 – Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$1,100,000 – Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$1,100,000 – Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$1,000,000 – Jim Parsons, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
$1,000,000 – Kaley Cuoco, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
$1,000,000 – Johnny Galecki, “The Big Bang Theory” (CBS)
$825,000 – Meryl Streep, “The Nix” (Network TBA)
$750,000 – Robert De Niro, an untitled series by David O. Russell (Amazon)
$750,000 – Lauren Graham, “Gilmore Girls” (Netflix)
$750,000 – Alexis Bledel, “Gilmore Girls” (Netflix)
$650,000 – Andrew Lincoln, “The Walking Dead” (AMC)
$650,000 – Norman Reedus, “The Walking Dead” (AMC)
$525,000 – Mark Harmon, “NCIS” (CBS)
$500,000 – Kevin Spacey, “House of Cards” (Netflix)
$450,000 – Claire Danes, “Homeland” (Showtime)
$450,000 – Mariska Hargitay, “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC)
$450,000 – Dwayne Johnson, “Ballers” (HBO)
$400,000 – Ellen Pompeo, “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
$350,000 – Drew Barrymore, “Santa Clarita Diet” (Netflix)
$350,000 – Emma Stone, “Maniac” (Netflix)
$350,000 – Jonah Hill, “Maniac” (Netflix)
$350,000 – Joel Kinnaman, “Altered Carbon” (Netflix)
$350,000 – Reese Witherspoon, “Big Little Lies” (HBO)
$350,000 – Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies” (HBO)
$300,000 – Kiefer Sutherland, “Designated Survivor” (ABC)
Annual earnings for some prominent TV stars include:
- $47 million – Judy Sheindlin, “Judge Judy” (Syndicated)
- $22-25 million – Matt Lauer, “Today” (NBC)
- $20 million – Ellen DeGeneres, “Ellen” (Syndicated)
- $16-20 million – Kelly Ripa, “Live With Kelly” (Syndicated)
- $13-15 million – Miley Cyrus, “The Voice” (NBC)
- $13-15 million – Adam Levine, “The Voice” (NBC)
- $13-15 million – Jimmy Fallon, “The Tonight Show” (NBC)
- $13-15 million – Jimmy Kimmel, “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC)
- $12 million – Conan O’Brien, “Conan” (TBS)
- $12 million – Robin Roberts, “Good Morning America” (ABC)
Source: Business Insider
