List of highest-paid American television stars

This is a list of people starring on American television that are the highest-paid, based on verified sources for each person.

More information Name, Program ...


Name	Program	Role	Salary	Inflation Adjusted	Year	Ref.
Sarah Jessica Parker	Sex and the City	Carrie Bradshaw	$3.2 Million	$5,675,000	2001-2004	^[1]
Jennifer Aniston	The Morning Show	Alex Levy	$2 million	$2,383,000	2019–	^[2]^[3]
Reese Witherspoon	The Morning Show	Bradley Jackson	$2 million	$2,383,000	2019–	^[2]^[3]
Charlie Sheen	Two and a Half Men	Charlie Harper	$1.8-2 million	$2,438,000	2010–11	^[4]
Ray Romano	Everybody Loves Raymond	Raymond Barone	$1.725 million	$2,652,000	2003–05	^[5]
Kelsey Grammer	Frasier	Frasier Crane	$1.6 million	$2,581,000	2002–04	^[6]
Chris Pratt	The Terminal List	James Reece	$1.4 million	$1,648,000	2022–	^[7]
Tim Allen	Home Improvement	Tim Taylor	$1.25 million	$2,286,000	1998–99	^[4]
Jerry Seinfeld	Seinfeld	Jerry Seinfeld	$1 million	$1,869,000	1997–98	^[8]
Helen Hunt	Mad About You	Jamie Buchman	$1 million	$1,829,000	1998–99	^[9]
Paul Reiser	Mad About You	Paul Buchman	$1 million	$1,829,000	1998–99	^[9]
Jennifer Aniston	Friends	Rachel Green	$1 million	$1,613,000	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	$1,469,000	2006–07	^[11]
Kaley Cuoco	The Big Bang Theory	Penny	$1 million	$1,270,000	2015–17	^[12]
Johnny Galecki		Leonard Hofstadter
Jim Parsons		Sheldon Cooper
Nicole Kidman	Big Little Lies	Celeste Wright	$1 million	$1,192,000	2019	^[13]
Reese Witherspoon	Big Little Lies	Madeline Martha Mackenzie	$1 million	$1,192,000	2019	^[13]
Jeff Bridges	The Old Man	Dan Chase	$1 million	$1,177,000	2021–	^[7]
Sarah Jessica Parker	And Just Like That	Carrie Bradshaw	$1 million	$1,124,000	2021-	^[14]
Simon Helberg	The Big Bang Theory	Howard Wolowitz	$900,000	$1,092,000	2017-19	^[15]
Kunal Nayyar	The Big Bang Theory	Raj Koothrapali	$900,000	$1,092,000	2017-19	^[15]
Roseanne Barr	Roseanne	Roseanne Conner	$875,000	$1,700,000	1996-97	^[16]
John Goodman	Roseanne/The Conners	Dan Conner	$860,000	$1,700,000	1996-97; 2019-	^[17]
Ashton Kutcher	Two and a Half Men	Walden Schmidt	$755,000	$959,000	2014	^[4]
Drew Carey	The Drew Carey Show	Drew Carey	$750,000	$1,210,000	2001–04	^[4]
David Hyde Pierce	Frasier	Niles Crane	$750,000	$1,210,000	2004	^[18]
Lauren Graham	Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life	Lorelai Gilmore	$750,000	$952,000	2016	^[19]
Alexis Bledel	Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life	Rory Gilmore	$750,000	$952,000	2016	^[19]
Bryan Cranston	Your Honor	Michael Desiato	$750,000	$883,000	2019–2020	^[7]
Hugh Laurie	House	Dr. Gregory House	$700,000	$929,000	2011–12	^[20]
Andrew Lincoln	The Walking Dead	Rick Grimes	$650,000	$789,000	2017–18	^[21]
Kate Winslet	Mare of Easttown	Mare Sheehan	$650,000	$765,000	2019–2020	^[7]
Jon Cryer	Two and a Half Men	Alan Harper	$620,000	$797,000	2013–15	^[22]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	Seinfeld	Elaine Benes	$600,000	$1,122,000	1997–98	^[4]
Jason Alexander		George Costanza
Michael Richards		Cosmo Kramer
Eric McCormack	Will & Grace	Will Truman	$600,000	$907,000	2005–06	^[23]
Debra Messing		Grace Adler
Megan Mullally		Karen Walker
Sean Hayes		Jack McFarland
Steve Martin	Only Murders in the Building	Charles-Haden Savage	$600,000	$706,000	2020–	^[7]
Martin Short	Only Murders in the Building	Oliver Putnam	$600,000	$706,000	2020–
Gillian Anderson	The First Lady	Eleanor Roosevelt	$600,000	$706,000	2021–
Viola Davis		Michelle Obama
Michelle Pfeiffer		Betty Ford
Pedro Pascal	The Last of Us	Joel Miller	$600,000	$706,000	2021–
Ellen Pompeo	Grey's Anatomy	Meredith Grey	$575,000	$685,000	2005–	^[24]
Alec Baldwin	Dr. Death	Robert Henderson	$575,000	$677,000	2020–2021	^[7]
Norman Reedus	The Walking Dead	Daryl Dixon	$550,000	$667,000	2017–18	^[21]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	Veep	Selina Meyer	$500,000	$726,000	2019	^[25]
Sofía Vergara	Modern Family	Gloria Pritchett	$500,000	$596,000	2009–2020	^[26]

Close

Network primetime salaries per season

More information Name, Program ...

Name	Program	Role	Salary	Year	Ref.
Simon Cowell	The X Factor	Judge	$75 million	2012–13	^[27]
Ariana Grande	The Voice	Coach	$25 million	2021	^[28]
Katy Perry	American Idol	Judge	$25 million	2017–18	^[29]
Jennifer Lopez	American Idol	Judge	$20 million	2011–12	^[30]
Christina Aguilera	The Voice	Coach	$20 million	2011–16	^[31]
Mariah Carey	American Idol	Judge	$18 million	2012–13	^[32]
Ryan Seacrest	American Idol	Host	$15 million	2013–16	^[27]
Britney Spears	The X Factor	Judge	$15 million	2012	^[32]
Miley Cyrus	The Voice	Coach	$13 million	2016–17	^[33]
Adam Levine				2016–18	^[33]
Blake Shelton				2016–18	^[33]
Kelly Clarkson			$12 million	2018	^[34]
Shakira				2013	^[35]
Gwen Stefani				2017	^[36]
Nicki Minaj	American Idol	Judge		2012–13	^[37]

Close

Daytime annual salaries

More information Name, Program ...

Name	Program	Role	Salary	Year	Ref.
Ellen DeGeneres	The Ellen DeGeneres Show	Host	$50 million	2017	^[38]
Judith Sheindlin	Judge Judy	Judge	$47 million	2013	^[39]
Barbara Walters	The View	Host	$13 million	2007	^[40]
Bob Barker	The Price Is Right	Game show host	$10 million	2001	^[41]

Close

More information Name, Program ...

Name	Program	Role	Salary	Ref.
Matt Lauer	Today	Anchor	$21 million	^[42]
Meredith Vieira	Today	Anchor	$15 million	^[43]^[44]
Katie Couric	CBS Evening News	News anchor	$15 million	^[45]

Close

[1]
"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.
[2]
Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston Finally Give Us a Peek at The Morning Show. W. 25 March 2019.
[3]
Inside Apple's Long, Bumpy Road to Hollywood. ‘’The Hollywood Reporter’’. 16 October 2019.
[4]
"The Highest Paid TV Actors Of All Time Per Per Episode - UPROXX". UPROXX. August 5, 2014.
[5]
"For $50 Mil, Producers Love Raymond". PEOPLE.com.
[6]
"Kelsey Grammer: NBC's $1.6 Million Man". PEOPLE.com.
[7]
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.
[8]
Fahey, Mark (May 31, 2015). "Seinfeld's per-line payday". CNBC.
[9]
Flint, Joe (April 10, 1998). "Helen Hunt and Paul Riser get a raise". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
[10]
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.
[11]
Mahan, Colin (July 5, 2006). "Sopranos actors end pay dispute". TV.com. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
[12]
"Big Bang Theory Actors Set to Earn $1 Million an Episode".
[13]
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.
[14]
You Truly Won't Believe How Much Money the Cast of 'And Just Like That...' Is Making. 29 June 2023.
[15]
"Why the 'Big Bang Theory' Stars Took Surprising Pay Cuts". The Hollywood Reporter. March 29, 2017.
[16]
"What is Roseanne Barr's Net Worth?". May 29, 2018.
[17]
"What is Roseanne Barr's Net Worth?". May 29, 2018.
[18]
Acuna, Kirsten (September 25, 2012). "The Highest-Paid Actors On TV This Fall". Business Insider. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
[19]
"Salaries of TV's Top Talent Revealed". October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
[20]
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.
[21]
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.
[22]
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.
[23]
"Report: 'Will & Grace' to return in '06". Today.
[24]
"Ellen Pompeo Reveal's Why She Stayed on Grey's Anatomy".
[25]
You Know Julia Louis-Dreyfus Could Be a Billionaire in Her Lifetime? You Do Now. 23 July 2023.
[26]
"The Highest-Paid Actresses 2020: Small Screen Stars Like Sofia Vergara, Ellen Pompeo and Elisabeth Moss Shine". Forbes.
[27]
"Britney Spears signs onto 'X-Factor': Highest paid stars on TV". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
[28]
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.
[29]
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.
[30]
Elliott, Hannah (May 16, 2012). "The Real American Idol: How J.Lo Got Her Mojo Back". Forbes. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
[31]
Aguilera sources:
- Collins, Scott (May 13, 2013). "Will Christina Aguilera return to 'The Voice' with big pay bump?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
- "'The Voice': Christina Aguilera Will Be Back For Season 5". The Huffington Post. May 13, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
[32]
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.
[33]
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.
[34]
Rushfield, Ricchard. "Idol Terror - Is Seacrest Out? An Ankler Special Report". The Ankler. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
[35]
Buchanan, Kyle (September 19, 2012). "How Much Will Shakira Make for The Voice?". Vulture. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
[36]
Gerencer, Tommy (November 28, 2016). "How Much Money Do The Voice Coaches Make?". MoneyNation. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
[37]
Soghomonian, Talia (June 1, 2013). "Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey quit 'American Idol'". NME. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
[38]
"TV Personalities". CBC News. July 25, 2007. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
[39]
"TVs Highest Paid Star? Judge Judy (by a mile)". newser.com. August 22, 2013.
[40]
"Barbara Walters". Forbes.com. June 14, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
[41]
"Spotlights Monologues extended". Toronto Star. January 30, 2001. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
[42]
Starr, Michael (May 2, 2002). "Stays for Another 'Day'". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
[43]
Durden, Douglas (September 14, 2006). "'Today' gives new host a very warm welcome". Richmond Times.^{[dead link‍]}
[44]
"Vieira chosen as Couric's 'Today' successor". NBC. April 7, 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
[45]
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.

[1] [1]
"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.

[2] [2]
Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston Finally Give Us a Peek at The Morning Show. W. 25 March 2019.

[3] [3]
Inside Apple's Long, Bumpy Road to Hollywood. ‘’The Hollywood Reporter’’. 16 October 2019.

[uproxx.com-4] [4]
"The Highest Paid TV Actors Of All Time Per Per Episode - UPROXX". UPROXX. August 5, 2014.

[5] [5]
"For $50 Mil, Producers Love Raymond". PEOPLE.com.

[6] [6]
"Kelsey Grammer: NBC's $1.6 Million Man". PEOPLE.com.

[Variety_2021-7] [7]
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.

[8] [8]
Fahey, Mark (May 31, 2015). "Seinfeld's per-line payday". CNBC.

[Entertainment_Weekly-9] [9]
Flint, Joe (April 10, 1998). "Helen Hunt and Paul Riser get a raise". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 10, 2018.

[nytimes.com-10] [10]
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.

[sopranos_salary-11] [11]
Mahan, Colin (July 5, 2006). "Sopranos actors end pay dispute". TV.com. Retrieved May 10, 2018.

[12] [12]
"Big Bang Theory Actors Set to Earn $1 Million an Episode".

[13] [13]
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.

[14] [14]
You Truly Won't Believe How Much Money the Cast of 'And Just Like That...' Is Making. 29 June 2023.

[15] [15]
"Why the 'Big Bang Theory' Stars Took Surprising Pay Cuts". The Hollywood Reporter. March 29, 2017.

[16] [16]
"What is Roseanne Barr's Net Worth?". May 29, 2018.

[17] [17]
"What is Roseanne Barr's Net Worth?". May 29, 2018.

[BI_2012-18] [18]
Acuna, Kirsten (September 25, 2012). "The Highest-Paid Actors On TV This Fall". Business Insider. Retrieved September 10, 2014.

[19] [19]
"Salaries of TV's Top Talent Revealed". October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.

[20] [20]
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.

[hollywoodreporter.com-21] [21]
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.

[22] [22]
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.

[23] [23]
"Report: 'Will & Grace' to return in '06". Today.

[24] [24]
"Ellen Pompeo Reveal's Why She Stayed on Grey's Anatomy".

[25] [25]
You Know Julia Louis-Dreyfus Could Be a Billionaire in Her Lifetime? You Do Now. 23 July 2023.

[26] [26]
"The Highest-Paid Actresses 2020: Small Screen Stars Like Sofia Vergara, Ellen Pompeo and Elisabeth Moss Shine". Forbes.

[NY_Daily_News-27] [27]
"Britney Spears signs onto 'X-Factor': Highest paid stars on TV". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2017.

[Yahoo!style-28] [28]
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.

[29] [29]
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.

[30] [30]
Elliott, Hannah (May 16, 2012). "The Real American Idol: How J.Lo Got Her Mojo Back". Forbes. Retrieved July 24, 2017.

[AguileraLA-31] [31]
Aguilera sources:
Collins, Scott (May 13, 2013). "Will Christina Aguilera return to 'The Voice' with big pay bump?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 2, 2019.

"'The Voice': Christina Aguilera Will Be Back For Season 5". The Huffington Post. May 13, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2019.

[32] Collins, Scott (May 13, 2013). "Will Christina Aguilera return to 'The Voice' with big pay bump?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 2, 2019.

[33] "'The Voice': Christina Aguilera Will Be Back For Season 5". The Huffington Post. May 13, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2019.

[Spin_Magazine-32] [32]
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.

[TheWrap-33] [33]
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.

[34] [34]
Rushfield, Ricchard. "Idol Terror - Is Seacrest Out? An Ankler Special Report". The Ankler. Retrieved July 4, 2017.

[ShakiraVulture-35] [35]
Buchanan, Kyle (September 19, 2012). "How Much Will Shakira Make for The Voice?". Vulture. Retrieved February 2, 2019.

[MoneyNation-36] [36]
Gerencer, Tommy (November 28, 2016). "How Much Money Do The Voice Coaches Make?". MoneyNation. Retrieved July 4, 2017.

[NickiIdol-37] [37]
Soghomonian, Talia (June 1, 2013). "Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey quit 'American Idol'". NME. Retrieved February 2, 2019.

[38] [38]
"TV Personalities". CBC News. July 25, 2007. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.

[39] [39]
"TVs Highest Paid Star? Judge Judy (by a mile)". newser.com. August 22, 2013.

[40] [40]
"Barbara Walters". Forbes.com. June 14, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2008.

[41] [41]
"Spotlights Monologues extended". Toronto Star. January 30, 2001. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.

[42] [42]
Starr, Michael (May 2, 2002). "Stays for Another 'Day'". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.

[43] [43]
Durden, Douglas (September 14, 2006). "'Today' gives new host a very warm welcome". Richmond Times.^{[dead link‍]}

[44] [44]
"Vieira chosen as Couric's 'Today' successor". NBC. April 7, 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2014.

[45] [45]
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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List of highest-paid American television stars

Network primetime salaries per season

Daytime annual salaries

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Network primetime salaries per season

Daytime annual salaries

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TV and streaming salaries per episode

Television hosts

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References