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.

TV and streaming salaries per episode


Name	Program	Role	Salary	Inflation Adjusted	Year	Ref.
Sarah Jessica Parker	Sex and the City	Carrie Bradshaw	$3.2 million	$5,327,000	2001–2004	^[1]
Jennifer Aniston	The Morning Show	Alex Levy	$2 million	$2,460,000	2019–	^[2]^[3]
Reese Witherspoon	The Morning Show	Bradley Jackson	$2 million	$2,460,000	2019–	^[2]^[3]
Charlie Sheen	Two and a Half Men	Charlie Harper	$1.8-2 million	$2,516,000	2010–11	^[4]
Ray Romano	Everybody Loves Raymond	Raymond Barone	$1.725 million	$2,737,000	2003–05	^[5]
Kelsey Grammer	Frasier	Frasier Crane	$1.6 million	$2,664,000	2002–04	^[6]
Chris Pratt	The Terminal List	James Reece	$1.4 million	$1,701,000	2022–	^[7]
Tim Allen	Home Improvement	Tim Taylor	$1.25 million	$2,359,000	1998–99	^[4]
Jerry Seinfeld	Seinfeld	Jerry Seinfeld	$1 million	$1,929,000	1997–98	^[8]
Helen Hunt	Mad About You	Jamie Buchman	$1 million	$1,888,000	1998–99	^[9]
Paul Reiser	Mad About You	Paul Buchman	$1 million	$1,888,000	1998–99	^[9]
Jennifer Aniston	Friends	Rachel Green	$1 million	$1,665,000	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	$1,516,000	2006–07	^[11]
Kaley Cuoco	The Big Bang Theory	Penny	$1 million	$1,310,000	2015–17	^[12]
Johnny Galecki		Leonard Hofstadter
Jim Parsons		Sheldon Cooper
Simon Helberg		Howard Wolowitz			2017	^[13]
Kunal Nayyar		Raj Koothrappali			2017	^[13]
Nicole Kidman	Big Little Lies	Celeste Wright	$1 million	$1,230,000	2019	^[14]
Reese Witherspoon	Big Little Lies	Madeline Martha Mackenzie	$1 million	$1,230,000	2019	^[14]
Jeff Bridges	The Old Man	Dan Chase	$1 million	$1,215,000	2021–	^[7]
Sarah Jessica Parker	And Just Like That	Carrie Bradshaw	$1 million	$1,160,000	2021–	^[1]
Roseanne Barr	Roseanne	Roseanne Conner	$875,000	$1,754,000	1996-97	^[15]
John Goodman	Roseanne/The Conners	Dan Conner	$860,000	$1,754,000	1996-97; 2019-	^[16]
Ashton Kutcher	Two and a Half Men	Walden Schmidt	$755,000	$989,000	2014	^[4]
Drew Carey	The Drew Carey Show	Drew Carey	$750,000	$1,249,000	2001–04	^[4]
David Hyde Pierce	Frasier	Niles Crane	$750,000	$1,249,000	2004	^[17]
Lauren Graham	Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life	Lorelai Gilmore	$750,000	$983,000	2016	^[18]
Alexis Bledel	Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life	Rory Gilmore	$750,000	$983,000	2016	^[18]
Bryan Cranston	Your Honor	Michael Desiato	$750,000	$911,000	2019–2020	^[7]
Hugh Laurie	House	Dr. Gregory House	$700,000	$959,000	2011–12	^[19]
Andrew Lincoln	The Walking Dead	Rick Grimes	$650,000	$814,000	2017–18	^[20]
Kate Winslet	Mare of Easttown	Mare Sheehan	$650,000	$790,000	2019–2020	^[7]
Jon Cryer	Two and a Half Men	Alan Harper	$620,000	$822,000	2013–15	^[21]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	Seinfeld	Elaine Benes	$600,000	$1,157,000	1997–98	^[4]
Jason Alexander		George Costanza
Michael Richards		Cosmo Kramer
Eric McCormack	Will & Grace	Will Truman	$600,000	$936,000	2005–06	^[22]
Debra Messing		Grace Adler
Megan Mullally		Karen Walker
Sean Hayes		Jack McFarland
Steve Martin	Only Murders in the Building	Charles-Haden Savage	$600,000	$729,000	2020–	^[7]
Martin Short		Oliver Putnam				^[7]
Selena Gomez		Mabel Mora				^[23]
Gillian Anderson	The First Lady	Eleanor Roosevelt	$600,000	$729,000	2021–	^[7]
Viola Davis		Michelle Obama
Michelle Pfeiffer		Betty Ford
Pedro Pascal	The Last of Us	Joel Miller	$600,000	$729,000	2021–
Ellen Pompeo	Grey's Anatomy	Meredith Grey	$575,000	$707,000	2005–	^[24]
Alec Baldwin	Dr. Death	Robert Henderson	$575,000	$699,000	2020–2021	^[7]
Norman Reedus	The Walking Dead	Daryl Dixon	$550,000	$689,000	2017–18	^[20]
Julia Louis-Dreyfus	Veep	Selina Meyer	$500,000	$749,000	2019	^[25]
Julie Bowen	Modern Family	Claire Dunphy	$500,000	$615,000	2017-2020	^[26]
Ty Burrell		Phil Dunphy
Jesse Tyler Ferguson		Mitchell Pritchett
Ed O'Neill		Jay Pritchett
Eric Stonestreet		Cameron Tucker
Sofía Vergara		Gloria Pritchett

Television hosts

Network primetime salaries per season

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]

Daytime annual salaries

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]

News presenters

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]

References

^ ^a ^b "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.
^ Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston Finally Give Us a Peek at The Morning Show. W. 25 March 2019.
^ Inside Apple's Long, Bumpy Road to Hollywood. ‘’The Hollywood Reporter’’. 16 October 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "The Highest Paid TV Actors Of All Time Per Per Episode - UPROXX". UPROXX. August 5, 2014.
^ "For $50 Mil, Producers Love Raymond". PEOPLE.com.
^ "Kelsey Grammer: NBC's $1.6 Million Man". PEOPLE.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g 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.
^ Fahey, Mark (May 31, 2015). "Seinfeld's per-line payday". CNBC.
^ Flint, Joe (April 10, 1998). "Helen Hunt and Paul Riser get a raise". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
^ 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.
^ Mahan, Colin (July 5, 2006). "Sopranos actors end pay dispute". TV.com. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
^ "Big Bang Theory Actors Set to Earn $1 Million an Episode".
^ "Why the 'Big Bang Theory' Stars Took Surprising Pay Cuts". The Hollywood Reporter. March 29, 2017.
^ 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.
^ "What is Roseanne Barr's Net Worth?". May 29, 2018.
^ "What is Roseanne Barr's Net Worth?". May 29, 2018.
^ Acuna, Kirsten (September 25, 2012). "The Highest-Paid Actors On TV This Fall". Business Insider. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
^ "Salaries of TV's Top Talent Revealed". October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ 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.
^ "Report: 'Will & Grace' to return in '06". Today. April 26, 2005.
^ "THese Are The Richest Self-Made Women Under 40". Forbes. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
^ "Ellen Pompeo Reveal's Why She Stayed on Grey's Anatomy".
^ You Know Julia Louis-Dreyfus Could Be a Billionaire in Her Lifetime? You Do Now. 23 July 2023.
^ "How Much Were The Modern Family Cast Paid For The First Episode & The Final One". ScreenRant. June 27, 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Britney Spears signs onto 'X-Factor': Highest paid stars on TV". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Elliott, Hannah (May 16, 2012). "The Real American Idol: How J.Lo Got Her Mojo Back". Forbes. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
^
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.
^ ^a ^b 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c 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.
^ Rushfield, Richard=Idol Terror - Is Seacrest Out? An Ankler Special Report. "The Ankler: Idol Terror - is Seacrest Out? An Ankler Special Report". The Ankler. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
^ Buchanan, Kyle (September 19, 2012). "How Much Will Shakira Make for The Voice?". Vulture. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
^ Gerencer, Tommy (November 28, 2016). "How Much Money Do The Voice Coaches Make?". MoneyNation. Retrieved July 4, 2017.
^ Soghomonian, Talia (June 1, 2013). "Nicki Minaj and Mariah Carey quit 'American Idol'". NME. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
^ "TV Personalities". CBC News. July 25, 2007. Archived from the original on September 8, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
^ "TVs Highest Paid Star? Judge Judy (by a mile)". newser.com. August 22, 2013.
^ "Barbara Walters". Forbes.com. June 14, 2007. Retrieved May 8, 2008.
^ "Spotlights Monologues extended". Toronto Star. January 30, 2001. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012.
^ Starr, Michael (May 2, 2002). "Stays for Another 'Day'". Fox News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2013. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
^ Durden, Douglas (September 14, 2006). "'Today' gives new host a very warm welcome". Richmond Times.^{[dead link]}
^ "Vieira chosen as Couric's 'Today' successor". NBC. April 7, 2006. Retrieved September 10, 2014.
^ 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.

[SJP-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.

[uproxx.com-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.

[Variety_2021-7] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g 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.

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

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

[14] 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.

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

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

[BI_2012-17] Acuna, Kirsten (September 25, 2012). "The Highest-Paid Actors On TV This Fall". Business Insider. Retrieved September 10, 2014.

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

[19] 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-20] 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.

[21] 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.

[22] "Report: 'Will & Grace' to return in '06". Today. April 26, 2005.

[23] "THese Are The Richest Self-Made Women Under 40". Forbes. June 5, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.

[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] "How Much Were The Modern Family Cast Paid For The First Episode & The Final One". ScreenRant. June 27, 2021.

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

[Yahoo!style-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.

[AguileraLA-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] 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] 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, Richard=Idol Terror - Is Seacrest Out? An Ankler Special Report. "The Ankler: Idol Terror - is Seacrest Out? An Ankler Special Report". The Ankler. Retrieved July 4, 2017.

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

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

[NickiIdol-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.

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List of highest-paid American television stars

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