How much the highest-paid stars on TV are making, from 'Big Bang Theory' to 'Game of Thrones'

Advertisement
How much the highest-paid stars on TV are making, from 'Big Bang Theory' to 'Game of Thrones'

Big Little Lies

HBO

Nicole Kidman on HBO's "Big Little Lies."

How much are networks shelling out to bring Hollywood stars to TV?

Advertisement

In this age of proliferated programming, marquee names have become essential to bring sizable audiences to shows. And the competition among networks and producers has driven industry salaries to new heights.

At its height, Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman reportedly negotiated $1 million salaries for the upcoming second season of HBO's Emmy-winning drama, "Big Little Lies."

And Jim Parsons of CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" made headlines this week for walking away from a reported two-year, $50 million paycheck for two more seasons of the sitcom, which CBS has subsequently decided to end in 2019.

Here's how much the highest-paid stars on TV are earning per-episode:

Advertisement

Note: Some salaries may include producing fees.

Jethro Nededog contributed to a previous version of this story.

{{}}

$1,000,000 — Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies" (HBO)

$1,000,000 — Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies" (HBO)

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

$1,000,000 — Reese Witherspoon, "Big Little Lies" (HBO)

$1,000,000 — Reese Witherspoon, "Big Little Lies" (HBO)

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Advertisement

$1,000,000 — Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)

$1,000,000 — Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)

Source: Variety

$1,000,000 — Kaley Cuoco, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)

$1,000,000 — Kaley Cuoco, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)

Source: Variety

Advertisement

$1,000,000 — Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)

$1,000,000 — Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)

Source: Variety

$825,000 – Meryl Streep, "The Nix" (Network TBA)

$825,000 – Meryl Streep, "The Nix" (Network TBA)

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Advertisement

$650,000 – Dwayne Johnson, "Ballers" (HBO)

$650,000 – Dwayne Johnson, "Ballers" (HBO)

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

$650,000 – Norman Reedus, "The Walking Dead" (AMC)

$650,000 – Norman Reedus, "The Walking Dead" (AMC)

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Advertisement

$575,000 — Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)

$575,000 — Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

$525,000 — Mark Harmon, "NCIS" (CBS)

$525,000 — Mark Harmon, "NCIS" (CBS)

Source: Variety

Advertisement

$500,000 — Kit Harington, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

$500,000 — Kit Harington, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

Source: Variety

$500,000 — Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

$500,000 — Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

Source: Variety

Advertisement

$500,000 — Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

$500,000 — Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

Source: Variety

$500,000 — Lena Headey, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

$500,000 — Lena Headey, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

Source: Variety

Advertisement

$500,000 — Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

$500,000 — Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)

Source: Variety

$500,000 — Kevin Costner, "Yellowstone" (Paramount Network)

$500,000 — Kevin Costner, "Yellowstone" (Paramount Network)

Source: Variety

Advertisement

$450,000 — Claire Danes, "Homeland" (Showtime)

$450,000 — Claire Danes, "Homeland" (Showtime)

Source: Variety

Next StoryVenezuela's economic crisis is so bad that some women say they're turning to sex work to survive