The '90s was a decade that saw NBC dominating the small screen with sitcoms like Seinfeld and Friends. Other networks, however, did have hit shows of their own, including CBS, which was home to The King of Queens.
Leah Remini starred on the show with Kevin James, and while things weren't always smooth, they did appreciate working with one another.
Remini and James both made a mint from the show, and fans want to know if Remini could solely live on her King of Queens earnings. We have some details that might help solve this mystery below!
Leah Remini Made Her The King Of Queens Debut In 1998
In September 1998, The King of Queens made its official debut on CBS. The series had to contend with a slate of smash hit sitcoms during that time, but it was just what the network needed to compete with the likes of NBC.
Starring Kevin James and Leah Remini, The King of Queens was a solid sitcom that was able to separate itself from the pack thanks largely to the chemistry on screen. The cast was exceptional with each other, and the work they did in bringing each script to life is what helped set the show apart from many others.
Despite the show's outstanding success, it was never showered in awards like other sitcoms of its era.
"Emmy had no love for us. No one, not even the sound-mixing guys, got so much as a nomination for the show. We had a hit show, but it was a blue-collar show," Remini once said.
The show helped the actress become a household name, and she's done plenty more since its send. Due to her sustained success in the entertainment industry, Remini has been able to amass an impressive net worth.
Leah Remini Has A Worth Of $25 Million
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Leah Remini is currently worth an estimated $25 million, which is quite impressive.
While her acting has boosted her net worth in profound ways, it's important to note that her real estate holdings have helped shape that large number, too.
"Leah resides in a 9,300 square foot mansion in Studio City, California. She paid $3.75 million for the home in 2003, and it includes 5 bedrooms and 9 baths. As of 2019, the house was estimated to be worth $8.5 million," Celebrity Net Worth reports.
It's pretty amazing to see how much her home has skyrocketed in value over the last 19 years. Considering that the market continues to boom, and that homes are selling for ludicrous prices, Remini's home will likely continue to increase in value.
As impressive as it is to see what her overall net worth looks like, fans still have little clarity about the act amount she's currently making from The King of Queens. This leads to a simple question: can Leah Remini live off of what she currently makes from her old series?
Can She Live Off Her TV Money?
So, is Leah Remini able to live off of her King of Queens money these days? Well, we need to take a look at her co-star's financial gains, which will help potentially gauge how much she is netting.
"Because James is an executive producer on King of Queens, he makes a mint on reruns, with a reported $50 million in backend and residual earnings from the series in his syndication deal. Because Kevin Can Wait didn't hit 100 episodes, the show isn't currently in syndication," Parade reports.
Now, it's important to note that James is an executive producer on the show, meaning that he gets a much larger piece of the pie. This is a commonality on all popular shows, and it's what title matters in Hollywood.
Because Leah Remini isn't a producer, she isn't making nearly as much money from the show's time in syndication. That said, she's likely earned her fair share of cash, even with the sliding scale that actors are put on when a show is in constant rotation on various networks.
"With 236 episodes, that would mean Kudrow would’ve gotten at least: $2,360,000 in total residuals for “Friends.” Now, we all know “Friends” has aired a bajillion times, so it’s safe to say that estimate is ludicrously, ridiculously and extremely low," Marketplace estimates.
By this estimate, Remini has made at least $2 million in syndication.
So, can Leah Remini live off her syndication money from The King of Queens? We don't have the exact number, but it sure seems like she would be able to, so good for her.