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The 2013 list is here.
WHO EARNS WHAT
Big Bang's big bucks, Netflix's moneymakers and morning-show multimillionaires. Our annual salary report.
By Stephen Battaglio and Michael Schneider, TV GUIDE MAGAZINE
The new deals for The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco, which pay each $1 million per episode, make them the top-earning actors in TV Guide Magazine's annual survey of stars' salaries. But will the trio be the last to reach that seven-figure milestone?
We put the question to many of the network and studio executives and talent agents we query every year to gather the data. All are trying to make sense of how the slicing and dicing of the mass audience — now more fragmented than ever by the rise of online streaming, DVR playback, and video on demand — is changing their business. Series with just a quarter of the 20 million viewers Big Bang averaged last season are being heralded as hits and getting renewed. One network entertainment chief, asked to explain why the show was so much bigger than any other sitcom, says Big Bang, now going into its eighth season, is from "the pre-DVR era," when shows had less competition.
Yet no one says it is impossible for another Big Bang-size hit, one that commands seven-figure paydays for its leads, to come along. "We have to believe that we can do it again," says one TV comedy executive.
But for the actors to cash in, a number of factors would have to fall into place as perfectly as they did for Big Bang. "It has to be a huge, broad, wildly profitable show that is showing no signs of slowing down," says another studio executive, who notes that reaching eight seasons is rare in itself. "It also has to have a small, core cast that has been there from the beginning. The show can't have 11 series regulars, like Modern Family." Nor, the executive notes, can it be a series with a lot of "cast churn." Killing off major characters — a common practice, thanks to Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead — has become an effective way to keep salaries in line on shows with large ensemble casts.
But the rules of the game are rapidly changing, which leads another veteran executive to suggest a streaming TV service such as Netflix could be the next company to sign a $1 million paycheck for the star of one of its original series. Netflix is nearly halfway there with what it pays House of Cards star Kevin Spacey, according to the estimates of industry insiders.
The proliferation of digital scripted shows — thanks to the ramp-up of original TV production by companies like Yahoo, Hulu, and Amazon — is increasing the demand for actors. That could eventually lift their pay after years of studios and networks holding the line on talent costs. (The top starting salary for a network show is $125,000 per episode. The highest figure for cable-show leads is typically $75,000.) "[Amazon] pays really well," says Amy Landecker, costar of the online giant's new comedy Transparent. "You'd be amazed."
Also amazing: American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez will pull in $17.5 million in the show's next cycle, despite the singing competition's staggering ratings drop last season. She'll also work fewer hours. Sometimes the rich just get richer.
COMEDY (per episode) [*plus profit participation **includes producer fee]
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory $1,000,000*
Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory $1,000,000*
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory $1,000,000*
Ashton Kutcher, Two and a Half Men, $750,000
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men $650,000
Nancy Cartwright, The Simpsons $300,000
Dan Castellaneta, The Simpsons $300,000
Julie Kavner, The Simpsons $300,000
Yeardley Smith, The Simpsons $300,000
Tim Allen, Last Man Standing $250,000
Patricia Heaton, The Middle $250,000
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation $250,000**
Julie Bowen, Modern Family $190,000
Ty Burrell, Modern Family $190,000
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family $190,000
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family $190,000
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family $190,000
Kate Walsh, Bad Judge $175,000**
Don Cheadle, House of Lies $150,000
Lena Dunham, Girls $150,000**
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie $150,000
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep $150,000
Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project $140,000**
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl $130,000
Will Arnett, The Millers $125,000
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine $125,000**
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish $100,000
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine $100,000
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory $75,000
Melissa Rauch, The Big Bang Theory $75,000
Sarah Hyland, Modern Family $75,000
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent $75,000
Margo Martindale, The Millers $60,000
Jack McGee, The McCarthys $60,000
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish $50,000
Ben Feldman, A to Z $40,000
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin $40,000
Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black $35,000
Steve Byrne, Sullivan & Son $30,000
Susan Lucci, Devious Maids $30,000
THE MILLION-DOLLAR CLUB
The Big Bang Theory's three leads—Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, and Jim Parsons—will be in some rarefied financial company this fall. They join the following stars, who have hit the $1-million-per-episode mark.
1997 Jerry Seinfeld, Seinfeld
1998 Tim Allen, Home Improvement
1998 Paul Reiser & Helen Hunt, Mad About You
2002 The cast of Friends (Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc)
2002 Kelsey Grammer, Frasier
2004 Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond
2007 James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
2010 Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
DRAMA (per episode) [*plus profit participation **includes producer fee]
Mark Harmon, NCIS $525,000*
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards $500,000**
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit $400,000
Simon Baker, The Mentalist $350,000
Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy $350,000
Ellen Pompeo, Grey's Anatomy $350,000
Jon Hamm, Mad Men $275,000
David Boreanaz, Bones $250,000
Emily Deschanel, Bones $250,000
Claire Danes, Homeland $250,000
Ted Danson, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation $250,000
Michael Weatherly, NCIS $250,000
Angie Harmon, Rizzoli & Isles $185,000
Jensen Ackles, Supernatural $175,000
Shemar Moore, Criminal Minds $175,000
Katherine Heigl, State of Affairs $150,000**
Kerry Washington, Scandal $150,000
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones $150,000
Tom Selleck, Blue Bloods $150,000
Téa Leoni, Madam Secretary $125,000
Debra Messing, The Mysteries of Laura $125,000
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland $125,000
Scott Bakula, NCIS: New Orleans $120,000
Eric Dane, The Last Ship $100,000
Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex $100,000
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex $100,000
Halle Berry, Extant $100,000
Jesse L. Martin, Gotham $100,000
Jada Pinkett Smith, Gotham $100,000
Jonny Lee Miller, Elementary $100,000
Anna Gunn, Gracepoint $75,000
Octavia Spencer, Red Band Society $75,000
Justin Theroux, The Leftovers $75,000
Katee Sackhoff Longmire $60,000 (FYI: A&E just cancelled it!
)
John Benjamin Hickey, Manhattan $50,000
CCH Pounder, NCIS: New Orleans $50,000
Shane West, Salem $50,000
Lucy Hale, Pretty Little Liars $42,000
Katharine McPhee, Scorpion $40,000
DAYTIME/SYNDICATION (per year) [*includes profit participation]
Judy Sheindlin, Judge Judy $47 million
Ellen DeGeneres, The Ellen DeGeneres Show $16-20 million*
Kelly Ripa, Live With Kelly and Michael $14-20 million*
Pat Sajak, Wheel of Fortune $12 million
Alex Trebek, Jeopardy! $9-10 million
Vanna White, Wheel of Fortune $8 million
Whoopi Goldberg, The View $5 million
Rosie O'Donnell, The View $5 million
Meredith Vieira, The Meredith Vieira Show $5 million
Clinton Kelly, The Chew $10,000 per week
NEWS (per year)
Matt Lauer, Today $22-25 million
Bill O'Reilly, The O'Reilly Factor $18 million
Robin Roberts, Good Morning America $14 million
Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News $13 million
Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360 $11 million
Shepard Smith, Shepard Smith Reporting $10 million
George Stephanopoulos, Good Morning America & This Week $9 million
Rachel Maddow, The Rachel Maddow Show $7 million
Scott Pelley, CBS Evening News & 60 Minutes $7 million
Bret Baier, Special Report With Bret Baier $6 million
Maria Bartiromo, FOX Business $6 million
Katie Couric, Yahoo! News $6 million
Megyn Kelly, The Kelly File $6 million
David Muir, ABC World News Tonight & 20/20 $5 million
David Gregory, Meet the Press $4 million
Lawrence O'Donnell, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell $4 million
Lara Spencer, Good Morning America $3.5 million
Erin Burnett, OutFront $3 million
Nancy Grace, Nancy Grace $3 million
Steve Kroft, 60 Minutes $3 million
Willie Geist, Today & Morning Joe $2.5 million
Natalie Morales, Today $2.5 million
Byron Pitts, ABC News $1.2 million
Bill Weir, CNN $750,000
Ronan Farrow, Ronan Farrow Daily $650,000
LATE NIGHT (per year)
Jon Stewart, Comedy Central $25-30 million
David Letterman, CBS $20 million
Conan O'Brien, TBS $12 million
Jimmy Fallon, NBC $11 million
Chelsea Handler, Netflix $10 million
Jimmy Kimmel, ABC $10 million
Andy Cohen, Bravo $2 million
John Oliver, HBO $2 million
Saturday Night Live player starting salary, NBC $4,500 per episode
REAL ESTATE
PURCHASES
Les Moonves & Julie Chen Malibu, CA $29 million
Jim Parsons Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA $6.4 million
Andy Samberg Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA $6.3 million
Kaley Cuoco Tarzana, CA $5.5 million
David Gregory Washington, DC $5.5 million
Jesse Tyler Ferguson Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA $4.5 million
SALES
Ellen DeGeneres Westside, Los Angeles, CA $55 million
Ashton Kutcher Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA $10 million
Neil Patrick Harris Sherman Oaks, CA $3 million
Jason Priestley Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, CA $2 million
DOUBLE DIPPERS
Laurie Metcalf
The McCarthys, $90,000 per episode
Getting On, $50,000 per episode
Michael Strahan
Live With Kelly and Michael, $6 million per year
FOX Sports, $4 million per year
Heidi Klum
America's Got Talent, $70,000 per hour
Project Runway, $70,000 per episode
REALITY
Jennifer Lopez, American Idol $17.5 million per season
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol $15 million per season
Howard Stern, America's Got Talent $15 million per season
Kardashian family, Keeping Up With the Kardashians $10 million per season
Jeff Probst, Survivor $4 million per season
NeNe Leakes, The Real Housewives of Atlanta $1 million per year
Robertson family, Duck Dynasty $250,000 per episode
Harrison family, Pawn Stars $125,000 per episode
Lisa Vanderpump, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills $500,000 per year
Chris Harrison, The Bachelor & The Bachelorette $50,000 per hour
Richard Rawlings, Fast N' Loud $50,000 per episode
Bruno Tonioli, Dancing With the Stars $30,000 per hour
Kevin O'Leary, Shark Tank $30,000 per episode
Saga crew, Deadliest Catch $25,000 per episode
Eddie Cibrian, LeeAnn & Eddie $20,000 per episode
Mimi Faust, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta $20,000 per episode
Nicole Richie, Candidly Nicole $20,000 per episode
Elena Gant, Little Women: L.A. $2,000 per episode
WHO EARNS WHAT
Big Bang's big bucks, Netflix's moneymakers and morning-show multimillionaires. Our annual salary report.
By Stephen Battaglio and Michael Schneider, TV GUIDE MAGAZINE
The new deals for The Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco, which pay each $1 million per episode, make them the top-earning actors in TV Guide Magazine's annual survey of stars' salaries. But will the trio be the last to reach that seven-figure milestone?
We put the question to many of the network and studio executives and talent agents we query every year to gather the data. All are trying to make sense of how the slicing and dicing of the mass audience — now more fragmented than ever by the rise of online streaming, DVR playback, and video on demand — is changing their business. Series with just a quarter of the 20 million viewers Big Bang averaged last season are being heralded as hits and getting renewed. One network entertainment chief, asked to explain why the show was so much bigger than any other sitcom, says Big Bang, now going into its eighth season, is from "the pre-DVR era," when shows had less competition.
Yet no one says it is impossible for another Big Bang-size hit, one that commands seven-figure paydays for its leads, to come along. "We have to believe that we can do it again," says one TV comedy executive.
But for the actors to cash in, a number of factors would have to fall into place as perfectly as they did for Big Bang. "It has to be a huge, broad, wildly profitable show that is showing no signs of slowing down," says another studio executive, who notes that reaching eight seasons is rare in itself. "It also has to have a small, core cast that has been there from the beginning. The show can't have 11 series regulars, like Modern Family." Nor, the executive notes, can it be a series with a lot of "cast churn." Killing off major characters — a common practice, thanks to Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead — has become an effective way to keep salaries in line on shows with large ensemble casts.
But the rules of the game are rapidly changing, which leads another veteran executive to suggest a streaming TV service such as Netflix could be the next company to sign a $1 million paycheck for the star of one of its original series. Netflix is nearly halfway there with what it pays House of Cards star Kevin Spacey, according to the estimates of industry insiders.
The proliferation of digital scripted shows — thanks to the ramp-up of original TV production by companies like Yahoo, Hulu, and Amazon — is increasing the demand for actors. That could eventually lift their pay after years of studios and networks holding the line on talent costs. (The top starting salary for a network show is $125,000 per episode. The highest figure for cable-show leads is typically $75,000.) "[Amazon] pays really well," says Amy Landecker, costar of the online giant's new comedy Transparent. "You'd be amazed."
Also amazing: American Idol judge Jennifer Lopez will pull in $17.5 million in the show's next cycle, despite the singing competition's staggering ratings drop last season. She'll also work fewer hours. Sometimes the rich just get richer.
COMEDY (per episode) [*plus profit participation **includes producer fee]
Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory $1,000,000*
Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory $1,000,000*
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory $1,000,000*
Ashton Kutcher, Two and a Half Men, $750,000
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men $650,000
Nancy Cartwright, The Simpsons $300,000
Dan Castellaneta, The Simpsons $300,000
Julie Kavner, The Simpsons $300,000
Yeardley Smith, The Simpsons $300,000
Tim Allen, Last Man Standing $250,000
Patricia Heaton, The Middle $250,000
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation $250,000**
Julie Bowen, Modern Family $190,000
Ty Burrell, Modern Family $190,000
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family $190,000
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family $190,000
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family $190,000
Kate Walsh, Bad Judge $175,000**
Don Cheadle, House of Lies $150,000
Lena Dunham, Girls $150,000**
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie $150,000
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep $150,000
Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project $140,000**
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl $130,000
Will Arnett, The Millers $125,000
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine $125,000**
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish $100,000
Andre Braugher, Brooklyn Nine-Nine $100,000
Mayim Bialik, The Big Bang Theory $75,000
Melissa Rauch, The Big Bang Theory $75,000
Sarah Hyland, Modern Family $75,000
Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent $75,000
Margo Martindale, The Millers $60,000
Jack McGee, The McCarthys $60,000
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish $50,000
Ben Feldman, A to Z $40,000
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin $40,000
Taylor Schilling, Orange Is the New Black $35,000
Steve Byrne, Sullivan & Son $30,000
Susan Lucci, Devious Maids $30,000
THE MILLION-DOLLAR CLUB
The Big Bang Theory's three leads—Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, and Jim Parsons—will be in some rarefied financial company this fall. They join the following stars, who have hit the $1-million-per-episode mark.
1997 Jerry Seinfeld, Seinfeld
1998 Tim Allen, Home Improvement
1998 Paul Reiser & Helen Hunt, Mad About You
2002 The cast of Friends (Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc)
2002 Kelsey Grammer, Frasier
2004 Ray Romano, Everybody Loves Raymond
2007 James Gandolfini, The Sopranos
2010 Charlie Sheen, Two and a Half Men
DRAMA (per episode) [*plus profit participation **includes producer fee]
Mark Harmon, NCIS $525,000*
Kevin Spacey, House of Cards $500,000**
Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit $400,000
Simon Baker, The Mentalist $350,000
Patrick Dempsey, Grey's Anatomy $350,000
Ellen Pompeo, Grey's Anatomy $350,000
Jon Hamm, Mad Men $275,000
David Boreanaz, Bones $250,000
Emily Deschanel, Bones $250,000
Claire Danes, Homeland $250,000
Ted Danson, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation $250,000
Michael Weatherly, NCIS $250,000
Angie Harmon, Rizzoli & Isles $185,000
Jensen Ackles, Supernatural $175,000
Shemar Moore, Criminal Minds $175,000
Katherine Heigl, State of Affairs $150,000**
Kerry Washington, Scandal $150,000
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones $150,000
Tom Selleck, Blue Bloods $150,000
Téa Leoni, Madam Secretary $125,000
Debra Messing, The Mysteries of Laura $125,000
Mandy Patinkin, Homeland $125,000
Scott Bakula, NCIS: New Orleans $120,000
Eric Dane, The Last Ship $100,000
Michael Sheen, Masters of Sex $100,000
Lizzy Caplan, Masters of Sex $100,000
Halle Berry, Extant $100,000
Jesse L. Martin, Gotham $100,000
Jada Pinkett Smith, Gotham $100,000
Jonny Lee Miller, Elementary $100,000
Anna Gunn, Gracepoint $75,000
Octavia Spencer, Red Band Society $75,000
Justin Theroux, The Leftovers $75,000
Katee Sackhoff Longmire $60,000 (FYI: A&E just cancelled it!
)John Benjamin Hickey, Manhattan $50,000
CCH Pounder, NCIS: New Orleans $50,000
Shane West, Salem $50,000
Lucy Hale, Pretty Little Liars $42,000
Katharine McPhee, Scorpion $40,000
DAYTIME/SYNDICATION (per year) [*includes profit participation]
Judy Sheindlin, Judge Judy $47 million
Ellen DeGeneres, The Ellen DeGeneres Show $16-20 million*
Kelly Ripa, Live With Kelly and Michael $14-20 million*
Pat Sajak, Wheel of Fortune $12 million
Alex Trebek, Jeopardy! $9-10 million
Vanna White, Wheel of Fortune $8 million
Whoopi Goldberg, The View $5 million
Rosie O'Donnell, The View $5 million
Meredith Vieira, The Meredith Vieira Show $5 million
Clinton Kelly, The Chew $10,000 per week
NEWS (per year)
Matt Lauer, Today $22-25 million
Bill O'Reilly, The O'Reilly Factor $18 million
Robin Roberts, Good Morning America $14 million
Brian Williams, NBC Nightly News $13 million
Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 360 $11 million
Shepard Smith, Shepard Smith Reporting $10 million
George Stephanopoulos, Good Morning America & This Week $9 million
Rachel Maddow, The Rachel Maddow Show $7 million
Scott Pelley, CBS Evening News & 60 Minutes $7 million
Bret Baier, Special Report With Bret Baier $6 million
Maria Bartiromo, FOX Business $6 million
Katie Couric, Yahoo! News $6 million
Megyn Kelly, The Kelly File $6 million
David Muir, ABC World News Tonight & 20/20 $5 million
David Gregory, Meet the Press $4 million
Lawrence O'Donnell, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell $4 million
Lara Spencer, Good Morning America $3.5 million
Erin Burnett, OutFront $3 million
Nancy Grace, Nancy Grace $3 million
Steve Kroft, 60 Minutes $3 million
Willie Geist, Today & Morning Joe $2.5 million
Natalie Morales, Today $2.5 million
Byron Pitts, ABC News $1.2 million
Bill Weir, CNN $750,000
Ronan Farrow, Ronan Farrow Daily $650,000
LATE NIGHT (per year)
Jon Stewart, Comedy Central $25-30 million
David Letterman, CBS $20 million
Conan O'Brien, TBS $12 million
Jimmy Fallon, NBC $11 million
Chelsea Handler, Netflix $10 million
Jimmy Kimmel, ABC $10 million
Andy Cohen, Bravo $2 million
John Oliver, HBO $2 million
Saturday Night Live player starting salary, NBC $4,500 per episode
REAL ESTATE
PURCHASES
Les Moonves & Julie Chen Malibu, CA $29 million
Jim Parsons Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA $6.4 million
Andy Samberg Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA $6.3 million
Kaley Cuoco Tarzana, CA $5.5 million
David Gregory Washington, DC $5.5 million
Jesse Tyler Ferguson Los Feliz, Los Angeles, CA $4.5 million
SALES
Ellen DeGeneres Westside, Los Angeles, CA $55 million
Ashton Kutcher Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, CA $10 million
Neil Patrick Harris Sherman Oaks, CA $3 million
Jason Priestley Toluca Lake, Los Angeles, CA $2 million
DOUBLE DIPPERS
Laurie Metcalf
The McCarthys, $90,000 per episode
Getting On, $50,000 per episode
Michael Strahan
Live With Kelly and Michael, $6 million per year
FOX Sports, $4 million per year
Heidi Klum
America's Got Talent, $70,000 per hour
Project Runway, $70,000 per episode
REALITY
Jennifer Lopez, American Idol $17.5 million per season
Ryan Seacrest, American Idol $15 million per season
Howard Stern, America's Got Talent $15 million per season
Kardashian family, Keeping Up With the Kardashians $10 million per season
Jeff Probst, Survivor $4 million per season
NeNe Leakes, The Real Housewives of Atlanta $1 million per year
Robertson family, Duck Dynasty $250,000 per episode
Harrison family, Pawn Stars $125,000 per episode
Lisa Vanderpump, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills $500,000 per year
Chris Harrison, The Bachelor & The Bachelorette $50,000 per hour
Richard Rawlings, Fast N' Loud $50,000 per episode
Bruno Tonioli, Dancing With the Stars $30,000 per hour
Kevin O'Leary, Shark Tank $30,000 per episode
Saga crew, Deadliest Catch $25,000 per episode
Eddie Cibrian, LeeAnn & Eddie $20,000 per episode
Mimi Faust, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta $20,000 per episode
Nicole Richie, Candidly Nicole $20,000 per episode
Elena Gant, Little Women: L.A. $2,000 per episode