Do you want to become a famous actor in Hollywood? Sadly, the odds are against you from the very beginning. In fact, “The Book of Odds” puts your chances at around one in 1,190,000. Not to mention, getting hired for one project doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be asked to appear in more films or television shows in the future.
Indeed, show business is tough. In fact, it’s also tough for those who have already managed to get acting jobs here and there. According to PayScale, the average hourly rate of an actor or actress in the United States is currently $19.87 an hour. When bonus, commission and profit sharing are added, you can also end up with a minimum paycheck of $19,839.
And while that may sound good, that doesn’t come close to what some tv show actors have gotten paid over the years:
15 Julia Roberts Agreed To A Salary Of $600K Per Episode For Homecoming
At one point, Julia Roberts was a film actress who commanded a hefty $20 million paycheck per picture, thanks to hit films such as “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” “Notting Hill,” “Runaway Bride,” and “Erin Brockovich.” And so, when she decided to do the television series “Homecoming,” she was paid $600,000 per episode, according to Variety. For just one season, Roberts was already making what GOT stars were pulling in!
14 Dwayne Johnson Received A $650K Paycheck Per Episode For HBO's Ballers
Without a doubt, HBO found a hit in the Dwayne Johnson-led tv show “Ballers.” After all, we’re talking about an experienced actor, someone who’s already appeared in films such as “Central Intelligence,” “Get Smart,” and the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise. Hence, it’s no wonder that he was paid $650,000 per episode for his work on the show, according to Variety.
13 Ashton Kutcher Was Paid $700K Per Episode When He Joined Two And A Half Men
As you may know, Ashton Kutcher wasn’t on “Two and a Half Men” from the very beginning. Nonetheless, his performance alongside Jon Cryer was exactly what the show needed to remain a critical hit. Because of this, we can say that Kutcher deserved to be paid $700,000 per episode, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
12 Michael C. Hall Was Reportedly Paid $830K Per Episode For His Work On Dexter
Back in 2006, a binge-worthy tv drama titled “Dexter” started airing. On the show, actor Michael C. Hall portrayed titular character Dexter Morgan, a forensic technician who also happens to be a serial killer. For his intense portrayal of the role, Hall reportedly received $830,000 per episode, according to E! News.
11 The Big Bang Theory’s Five Main Cast Members Commanded $900K Per Episode After Taking A Pay Cut
At one point, it was believed that the show’s original five cast members - Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar – were taking home $1 million per episode. However, to help out co-stars Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch, the five actors agreed to take a pay cut of $100,000 each.
10 While Working On Big Little Lies, Nicole Kidman & Reese Witherspoon's Pay Was In The Range Of $1 Million Per Episode
Of the actresses, former HBO CEO and chairman Richard Plepler told Hollywood Reporter, “Reese and Nicole had the vision to know what this could become. They brought us a jewel and their enthusiasm became infectious, not only with the Big Little Lies team but throughout all of HBO.” It’s no wonder they got a huge salary bump for season two.
9 Elisabeth Moss Received $1 Million Per Episode From Hulu For The Handmaid’s Tale
On “The Handmaid’s Tale,” Moss plays June “Offred” Osborne, a concubine who is forced to live under strict conditions as she hopes to be reunited with her daughter someday. Aside from being an actor on the show, Moss also has executive producer credits. This may explain why she gets paid around $1 million per episode.
8 The Cast Of Friends Famously Negotiated For An Individual Payout Of $1 Million Per Episode
When “Friends” was on NBC, there was a time when cast members Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer were earning more than their co-stars. However, Aniston and Schwimmer didn’t feel that the arrangement was fair. And so, all the cast members came together and negotiated a pay of $1 million per episode each.
7 Tim Allen Got Paid $1.25 Million Per Episode For His Work On Home Improvement
Back in the 90s, there was a hit sitcom called “Home Improvement,” which starred Tim Allen as a tv show host trying his best to raise his three sons. For his work on his show, it is believed that Allen was paid $1.25 million per episode. Unfortunately, Allen didn’t get paid as much for his other tv show, “Last Man Standing.”
6 Kelsey Grammer Commanded $1.6 Million Per Episode On Frasier
Even today, the sitcom “Frasier” is seen as a true classic. Not only that, the show also secured 107 Emmy nominations and 37 awards, including Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for the show’s lead star, Kelsey Grammer. And so, it’s no wonder that Grammer was in a position to negotiate a pay of around $1.6 million per episode.
5 Ray Romano Was Reportedly Paid $1.8 Million Per Episode While Working On Everybody Loves Raymond
From 1996 to 2005, Ray Romano starred on the hit CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.” In the beginning, it was believed that Roman was getting paid $800,000 per episode. However, the actor reportedly signed a deal in 2003 that bumped his salary up to a hefty $1.8 million pay per episode.
4 Prior To His Ousting From Two And A Half Men, Charlie Sheen’s Paycheck Was $1.8 Million Per Episode
For quite some time, actor Charlie Sheen had a pretty good gig with his starring role on “Two and a Half Men.” In fact, estimates put his salary at $1.8 million per episode. Unfortunately, the pay stopped coming after Sheen was fired from the show by Warner Bros. Television. When he left, Kutcher was brought in to essentially take Sheen’s place.
3 Helen Hunt And Paul Reiser Negotiated A Rate Of Nearly $2 Million Per Episode For Their Work On Mad About You
“Mad About You” was a hit 90s sitcom that portrayed Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser as a married couple living in New York City. The show was a huge hit on NBC. And during its later seasons, Hunt and Reiser reportedly asked for an extra $750,000 and got their salaries up to around $1.9 million per episode.
2 Reese Witherspoon And Jennifer Aniston Are Getting $2 Million Per Episode On The Morning Show
“The Morning Show” marks Aniston’s first return to television since “Friends.” On this show, both Aniston and Witherspoon also serve as executive producers. Because of this, the women are paid $2 million per episode. Of the pay, Witherspoon told Hollywood Reporter, “I guarantee these companies are real smart, and if they agree to pay us, they're doing it for a reason.”
1 Jerry Seinfeld Eventually Received A $2.4 Million Paycheck Per Episode Of His Self-Titled Sitcom
As you know, there was a time when Jerry Seinfeld had a self-titled show on NBC. That show ran from 1989 to 1998 and during its run, Seinfeld got paid $2,364,862 per episode. Meanwhile, according to Fox News, Seinfeld was offered $5 million per episode to keep the show going. However, he just wanted it to end.