CBS/HBO Composite
If you’re a parent seeking to steer your child in the direction of a lucrative career, know that it pays to play make believe.
And if your child is lucky enough to act in one cringeworthy episode of the Big Bang Theory before it ends after the 12th season in 2019, he/she will be set for life. Last year, the top 5 earners in the comedy genre for television stars were actors on the CBS sitcom–with Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Johnny Galecki, and Jim Parsons each pulling in upwards of $1 million per episode. Parsons recently turned down $50 million over the next two seasons to walk away from The Big Bang Theory. Not bad for a show that has been mercilessly ridiculed for it’s…interesting approach to humor.
In any event, the earnings for television’s highest paid actors and actresses have been revealed. The figures you see below is how much they are earning PER EPISODE.
Via Business Insider:
$1,000,000 — Nicole Kidman, “Big Little Lies” (HBO)
$1,000,000 — Reese Witherspoon, “Big Little Lies” (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)
$650,000 – Dwayne Johnson, “Ballers” (HBO)
$650,000 – Norman Reedus, “The Walking Dead” (AMC)
$575,000 — Ellen Pompeo, “Grey’s Anatomy” (ABC)
$525,000 — Mark Harmon, “NCIS” (CBS)
$500,000 — Kit Harington, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$500,000 — Emilia Clarke, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$500,000 — Peter Dinklage, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$500,000 — Lena Headey, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$500,000 — Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau, “Game of Thrones” (HBO)
$500,000 — Kevin Costner, “Yellowstone” (Paramount Network)
$450,000 — Claire Danes, “Homeland” (Showtime)
$250,000 — Milo Ventimiglia, “This Is Us” (NBC)
$250,000 — Mandy Moore, “This Is Us” (NBC)
$250,000 — Sterling K. Brown, “This Is Us” (NBC)
$250,000 — Chrissy Metz, “This Is Us” (NBC)
$250,000 — Justin Hartley, “This Is Us” (NBC)
There you have it kids, instead of playing football and luckily getting four good years in the pros and possible CTE, join the drama club. You’ll eventually get laid when you get paid. I promise.
[h/t Business Insider]