How much are networks shelling out to bring Hollywood stars to TV?
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.
Norman Reedus is now making $1 million an episode for “The Walking Dead” as co-star Andrew Lincoln prepares to leave the show, according to Variety. Earlier this month, The Hollywood Reporter reported that the stars of HBO’s “Westworld” would be getting big raises ahead of the sci-fi drama’s third season.
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.”
Jim Parsons of CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” made headlines in August for walking away from a reported two-year, $50 million paycheck for two more seasons of the sitcom, which CBS subsequently decided to end in 2019.
Here's how much the highest-paid stars on TV are earning per-episode:
Note: Some salaries may include producing fees.
Jethro Nededog contributed to a previous version of this story.
$1,000,000 – Norman Reedus, "The Walking Dead" (AMC)
Source: Variety (2018)
$1,000,000 — Elisabeth Moss, "The Handmaid's Tale" (Hulu)
Source: Variety (2018)
$1,000,000 — Nicole Kidman, "Big Little Lies" (HBO)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$1,000,000 — Reese Witherspoon, "Big Little Lies" (HBO)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$1,000,000 — Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Source: Variety (2016)
$1,000,000 — Kaley Cuoco, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Source: Variety(2016)
$1,000,000 — Johnny Galecki, "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS)
Source: Variety(2016)
$825,000 – Meryl Streep, "The Nix" (Network TBA)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2016)
$650,000 – Dwayne Johnson, "Ballers" (HBO)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2017)
$600,000 — Julia Roberts, "Homecoming" (Amazon)
Source: Variety (2018)
$575,000 — Ellen Pompeo, "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$525,000 — Mark Harmon, "NCIS" (CBS)
Source: Variety (2016)
$500,000 — Sean Penn, "The First" (Hulu)
Source: Variety (2018)
$500,000 — Kit Harington, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)
Source: Variety (2017)
$500,000 — Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)
Source: Variety (2017)
$500,000 — Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)
Source: Variety (2017)
$500,000 — Lena Headey, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)
Source: Variety (2017)
$500,000 — Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau, "Game of Thrones" (HBO)
Source: Variety (2017)
$500,000 — Kevin Costner, "Yellowstone" (Paramount Network)
Source: Variety (2017)
$450,000 — Claire Danes, "Homeland" (Showtime)
Source: Variety (2017)
$375,000 — John Goodman, "The Conners" (ABC)
Source: Variety (2018)
$375,000 — Laurie Metcalf, "The Conners" (ABC)
Source: Variety (2018)
$375,000 — Sara Gilbert, "The Conners" (ABC)
Source: Variety (2018)
$350,000 — Winona Ryder, "Stranger Things" (Netflix)
Source: Variety (2018)
$350,000 — David Harbour, "Stranger Things" (Netflix)
Source: Variety (2018)
$250,000 — Milo Ventimiglia, "This Is Us" (NBC)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$250,000 — Mandy Moore, "This Is Us" (NBC)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$250,000 — Sterling K. Brown, "This Is Us" (NBC)
Source:The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$250,000 — Chrissy Metz, "This Is Us" (NBC)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$250,000 — Justin Hartley, "This Is Us" (NBC)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$250,000 — Evan Rachel Wood, "Westworld" (HBO)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$250,000 — Ed Harris, "Westworld" (HBO)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$250,000 — Jeffrey Wright, "Westworld" (HBO)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$250,000 — Thandie Newton, "Westworld" (HBO)
Source: The Hollywood Reporter (2018)
$350,000 — Millie Bobby Brown, "Stranger Things" (Netflix)
Source: Variety (2018)
