Police say Jussie Smollett was unhappy with his reported $65,000 per-episode salary on 'Empire' - here's how it stacks up against some of TV's biggest stars
- "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett, after turning himself into police on Thursday, was charged with making a false police report of a racist and homophobic assault last month.
- Chicago police alleged Smollett staged the attack as a publicity stunt, and that he was unhappy with his "Empire" salary.
- He made $65,000 an episode, a "well-placed source" told a HuffPost reporter.
- How does that stack up against some of the highest-paid actors on television?
"Empire" actor Jussie Smollett turned himself into police on Thursday and was charged with making a false police report.
Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist and homophobic assault last month. But Chicago police alleged he staged the act as a publicity stunt because he was unhappy with his "Empire" salary. Smollett made $65,000 per episode for the Fox show, according to HuffPost reporter Yashar Ali, who cited a "well-placed source." Empire has 18 episodes a season. A Fox rep declined to comment on Smollett's compensation.
"Empire" is on its fifth season, and Smollett has been a member of the cast since the beginning. How does his reported salary stack up against some of the highest-paid actors in television?
Norman Reedus is now making $1 million an episode for "The Walking Dead" after costar Andrew Lincoln departed the show, according to Variety. The stars of HBO's "Westworld" are getting big raises ahead of the sci-fi drama's third season, The Hollywood Reporter reported in October.
And Jim Parsons of CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" made headlines last summer for walking away from a reported two-year, $50 million paycheck for two more seasons of the sitcom, which CBS subsequently decided to end this year.
Below are some of TV's highest-paid actors and how much they make: