Here’s How Much Jennifer Aniston and Other Actors Get Paid for Their Reruns (2024)

Money / Wealth

Here’s How Much Jennifer Aniston and Other Actors Get Paid for Their Reruns (1) 6 min Read

By Rachel Farrow

Here’s How Much Jennifer Aniston and Other Actors Get Paid for Their Reruns (2)

For TV’s biggest stars, key roles on successful shows mean huge paychecks — but the payoff doesn’t stop there. When shows are syndicated, redistributed, released on DVD, purchased by a streaming service or otherwise used beyond what the actors were originally paid for, those actors get residual checks called royalties.

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So, do all actors get paid for reruns? According to the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, some do and some don’t. For principal performers, royalties can lead to long-term payoffs that trump the original salary. Background actors, on the other hand, won’t be getting any residual checks in the mail. Find out how much your favorite TV stars get paid for reruns and more.

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‘Friends’ Royalties

“Friends” ran for 10 seasons between 1994 and 2004. The show made stars out of Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow and, of course, Jennifer Aniston — one of the richest actresses of all time.

The show’s success still pays dividends for the cast. In 2015, USA Today reported that Warner Bros. earns $1 billion a year from “Friends.” Of that amount, 2% — or $20 million — goes to each of the stars every single year.

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‘Seinfeld’ Royalties

One of the most beloved and successful sitcoms of all time, “Seinfeld” — the show about nothing — ran for nine seasons, ending in 1998. As far as payouts to the cast, Jerry Seinfeld and co-creator Larry David take the lion’s share of royalties because co-stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Michael Richards and Jason Alexander don’t own a stake in the show, according to International Business Times.

David and Seinfeld can each make $400 million per syndication cycle, New York Magazine reported.

‘Gilligan’s Island’ Royalties

Although it’s one of history’s most familiar sitcoms, “Gilligan’s Island” ran for only three seasons — the first of which was filmed in black and white. You can still watch the marooned castaways in streaming reruns, but one of the show’s stars claims royalties never paid off.

Dawn Wells, who played the iconic Mary Ann, told Forbes in 2016 that a “misconception is that we must be wealthy, rolling in the dough, because we got residuals. We didn’t really get a dime.” She continued, “Sherwood Schwartz, our producer, reportedly made $90 million on the reruns alone.”

Characters like Thurston Howell III didn’t get to enjoy their riches either, even if they were fictional.

‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ Royalties

Ray Romano — one of the richest Emmy Award winners of all time — took the No. 94 position on the Forbes Celebrity 100 list in 2013. Although the publication mentioned Romano’s big-screen successes, like his character voice work in the “Ice Age” franchise, Forbes wrote that Romano’s place on the list was largely attributed to “the bulk of his annual earnings coming from syndication of the long-running CBS sitcom.”

Forbes was referring to “Everybody Loves Raymond,” which ran for nine seasons, ending in 2005, and continues in reruns on TV Land. Romano can earn up to $18 million a year, mainly from show residuals, Forbes and Vanity Fair reported.

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‘I Love Lucy’ Royalties

Over 60 years after the show went off the air in 1957, reruns of the groundbreaking sitcom “I Love Lucy” can still be seen on CBS online and the Hallmark Channel — and it continues to pay the salaries of TV executives.

In 2012, former CBS chief executive Leslie Moonvesboasted to a gathering of bankers that “I Love Lucy” continued to pull in $20 million a year, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Lucille Ball, the eponymous star of “I Love Lucy,” died in 1989.

‘The Brady Bunch’ Royalties

Generations of children grew up with “The Brady Bunch,” and you can continue to watch reruns on CBS online, Hulu and the Hallmark Channel. The show, which ran from 1969 to 1974, is among the most successful in history — but it didn’t make the stars rich, according to one cast member.

Eve Plumb, who played Jan Brady, told OK! Magazine in 2011 that the “biggest misconception is that we’re all rich from it, but we are not. We have not been paid for reruns of the show for many, many years. We are not making money off of it at all.”

‘Frasier’ Royalties

In a 2004 interview with John Mahoney, who played Martin Crane in “Frasier,” the Chicago Tribune wrote in reference to his salary and syndication royalties that “there’s enough in the bank to ensure he never has to work again on something he’d rather not do.”

You can catch “Frasier” — which was one of the most expensive TV shows to produce — on the Hallmark Channel, Cozi TV and CBS Online.

Mahoney passed away in 2018 at age 77.

‘Home Improvement’ Royalties

“Home Improvement” enjoyed an eight-year run that ended in 1999. Richard Karn, one of the show’s stars, told Australian publication News.com.au in 2016, “Every time the show gets bought around the world … you get a little percentage of that. … You don’t want to have to live on that, but it’s a nice kind of annuity.”

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‘Two and a Half Men’ Royalties

In 2011, Charlie Sheen was embroiled in a public dispute with CBS about his salacious personal problems that would eventually lead to him being fired from “Two and a Half Men.” The show had entered syndication three years earlier and enjoyed consistent status as the highest-rated scripted comedy.

At the time, Fox News speculated that Sheen would go on to earn $100 million more from the show on royalties alone. In 2016, however, the Associated Press reported that Sheen sold his profit participation rights for $27 million.

‘The Simpsons’ Royalties

Before “The Simpsons” was a $13 billion global franchise, it was an obscure animated segment that appeared on “The Tracey Ullman Show.” Although Ullman lost a 1992 lawsuit in which she sought merchandising fees, the comedian still cashes in.

During an interview with Andy Cohen, Ullman said she receives residuals from “The Simpsons” nearly 30 years after she created the central characters. While winking, she sarcastically said, “Yes, I hear from them four times a year.” When asked if her cut was significant, she replied, “Yeah, it’s not bad.”

Rapper 50 Cent can’t make the same claim. In 2017, TMZ reported that the musician and actor received a check from a cameo he made on “The Simpsons” for $16.68.

‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ Royalties

He lives in a pineapple under the sea, but he’s guaranteed to be a household name on land. Bikini Bottom’s fry cook has turned into one of the most iconic cartoon characters in history, landing over 700 license partners worldwide and raking in nearly $8 billion per year for Nickelodeon and MTV Networks, according to AdAge.

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About the Author

Rachel Farrow

Rachel Holly Farrow is a Digital Content Editor for GOBankingRates.com. She has worked in a multitude of different mediums— traditional print, television, and now digital— before landing with the team at GBR.She also served as a Weekend News Producer and Digital Content Producer for an ABC-affiliate news station WNEP-TV 16 in Scranton, PA.

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Here’s How Much Jennifer Aniston and Other Actors Get Paid for Their Reruns (2024)

FAQs

How much does Jennifer Aniston get paid for Friends reruns? ›

In 2000, the Friends cast signed a contract that allowed them all to get a cut of any royalties from reruns, which is kinda rare, tbh. And since Friends is still on television 18 years later, Jen gets a 2 percent share of the total $1 billion the show earns in streaming and royalties revenue Every.

How Much Does Jennifer Aniston make from royalties? ›

She charges around $10 million per year from endorsem*nts. Aniston also has royalties from Friends. According to their contract negotiations, the cast earns royalties from the show. Friends generate around $1 billion per year.

How much do actors make in residuals from reruns? ›

While the exact amount isn't actually known, cast members have revealed that the reruns pay them 6% of their original salaries. If a star made a mere $150,000 per episode across all 20 seasons, that would come in around $200,000 per year in royalties.

Do actors get paid when reruns are shown? ›

Residuals are financial compensations that are paid to the actors, film or television directors, and others involved in making TV shows and movies in cases of reruns, syndication, DVD release, or online streaming release.

Do the Friends cast still get royalties? ›

According to USA Today, all of the Friends cast members—Courtney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and Matthew Perry—receive 2% of the syndication revenue, or about $20 million per person annually, out of the $1 billion in revenue generated for Warner Bros.

Does Friends cast make money off of reruns? ›

'Friends' Royalties

The show's success still pays dividends for the cast. In 2015, USA Today reported that Warner Bros. earns $1 billion a year from "Friends." Of that amount, 2% -- or $20 million -- goes to each of the stars every single year.

How much does it cost to hire Jennifer Aniston? ›

The estimated speaking fee range to book Jennifer Aniston for your event is $200,000 and above.

How much does Jennifer Aniston get paid for Aveeno? ›

Aniston brings in an annual income of $20 million based on the product deals and endorsem*nts she has, along with her film and TV work.

How much do residuals actors make? ›

Residual compensation is really where commercial actors make most of their money. If a National SAG Commercial is shown often, actors will earn anywhere from $5,000 to $60,000 for their one day of work in a commercial!

What happens to residuals after an actor dies? ›

Your residuals will be disbursed pursuant to the terms of your will (or trust document) or under intestacy law if you do not have a will, as well as under the terms of community property as may apply. Residual Compensation.

How much does Ray Romano make on reruns? ›

Ray Romano makes up to $17 million per year on reruns. Charlie Sheen HAD been making around $100 million for Two and a Half Men until he sold of his stack in the rights.

How much does Charlie Sheen make in residuals? ›

Does Sheen still receive residuals from 'Two and a Half Men'? Even after being fired from Two and a Half Men, Sheen received royalties from the show—$100 million, in fact.

Who makes the most money from reruns? ›

Here's How Much The Cast Of Popular TV Shows Makes From The Reruns Of The Show
  • 8 Friends.
  • 7 Seinfeld.
  • 6 Gilligan's Island.
  • 5 Everybody Loves Raymond.
  • 4 I Love Lucy.
  • 3 Two and a Half Men.
  • 2 SpongeBob SquarePants.
  • 1 The Big Bang Theory.
Jan 2, 2022

Do actors get royalties every time their movie is played? ›

According to the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, some do and some don't. For principal performers, royalties can lead to long-term payoffs that trump the original salary. Background actors, on the other hand, won't be getting any residual checks in the mail.

How long do actors get paid for reruns? ›

The amount paid out decreases after each rerun — so by the 13th rerun, the amount has decreased to 5 percent of the original fee the actor was paid for her appearance in an episode. This 5 percent will be paid every time an episode is run forever.

How much does Matthew Perry make from reruns? ›

Matthew Still Earns Money From 'Friends'

Today, Friends continues to make around $1 billion in syndication sales and streaming deals. Depending on the sales each year, the cast earns between $10-20 million in royalties.

Who is the highest-paid TV show actor? ›

Kevin Costner: $1.3 million (£1m) per episode

Today, Costner is the highest-paid TV actor in the world, thanks to his role in Paramount's neo-western drama Yellowstone.

Which Friends cast member has the most money? ›

Jennifer Aniston aka Rachel Green: worth $320 million (£258.5m) Aniston is thought to be worth a whopping $320 million (£258.5m), making her the richest member of the Friends cast.

What type of car does Jennifer Aniston drive? ›

Toyota Prius hybrid: from US$22,000

Aniston is also one of the many Hollywood celebrities who owns a Toyota Prius hybrid. The environmentally friendly car has a price tag starting from US$22,000 and the Californian got hers in plain white.

How many hours a day does Jennifer Aniston workout? ›

How many hours a day does Jennifer Aniston workout? Jen trains for up to 90 minutes at a time according to Leyon, although this does depend on her filming schedule. The UK's NHS recommends that everyone does at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week.

How much does it cost to hire Angelina Jolie? ›

The estimated speaking fee range to book Angelina Jolie for your event is $200,000 and above. Angelina Jolie generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

How much did Emirates pay Jennifer Aniston? ›

The Friends star has already shot the campaign for the Dubai carrier in a deal worth US$5 million, the New York Post's Page Six column said at the weekend. “Jennifer Aniston has shot a high-profile campaign for Emirates as part of this deal, for which she is being paid around $5 million.

How Much Does Jennifer Aniston spend on skin care? ›

Jennifer Aniston has slapped down reports that she spends $141,000 a year on her beauty regime, saying that the claims are “greatly exaggerated.”

Does Jennifer Aniston own smart water? ›

With the help of Aniston's star power, Smartwater, which is now owned by The Coca-Cola Company, has become one of the most popular bottled water brands on the market and was valued at over $830 million in 2019.

How much do actors get for reruns? ›

You get nothing. Residual checks on shows are nothing,” he told PopEater in 2010. “If you're doing a show and you're not an executive producer and own it, then you get residuals which can amount to checks from $2 to $2,000.”

Do residuals stop when an actor dies? ›

Residual Compensation.

In 1977, the Guild negotiated for the member's right to receive residual compensation in perpetuity. As a result, even after your death, you will continue to receive residual compensation if your material is reused.

Do actors get paid for reruns on Netflix? ›

While the exact amount isn't actually known, cast members have revealed that the reruns pay them 6% of their original salaries. If a star made a mere $150,000 per episode across all 20 seasons, that would come in around $200,000 per year in royalties.

How long do movie royalties last? ›

As a general rule, for works created after January 1, 1978, copyright protection lasts for the life of the author plus an additional 70 years.

How long do TV residuals last? ›

Answer: Residuals are paid at various times depending upon what the original production was made for and where it airs. Usually, residuals are sent to the actor within 60 days of the exhibition, but could be longer than that, in particular for supplementary markets.

How often are SAG residuals paid? ›

Residuals Due:

Quarterly if revenue is received. Four months after 1st exhibition + quarterly if revenue is received.

How much does Seinfeld make on reruns? ›

In addition to his high salary, Seinfeld has continued to make money off the show's syndication following its 1998 finale. He and David both make $400 million each off each syndication cycle, as New York Magazine reported.

How much does Raymond make per episode? ›

In the final two seasons of Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray Romano was earning a then-record-breaking salary of $1.75 million per episode.

What is the difference between residuals and royalties? ›

The major difference between residuals and royalties in this situation is that residuals are paid out as the result of a service rendered (playing music) while royalties are paid out for content created (writing music).

How much are Cosby show residuals? ›

Basic cable channel TV One confirmed that it still airs "The Cosby Show" reruns. Reruns generated more than $1.5 billion over two decades, according to a 2017 Forbes estimate.

How do actors get paid when not working? ›

Popular choices include the restaurant, fashion, and homewares industries. Some actors go into producing and directing which gives them another string in their bow. Professional actors will also likely be earning a residual income from past movie appearances.

Do actors get paid before or after filming? ›

Generally, they get paid during the filming, if they're being paid a weekly salary, which most film actors are. If they're in Screen Actor's Guild, they also get a cash per diem per week for meals and indidental expenses.

What TV show has made the most money of all time? ›

1 Seinfeld (1989-1998)

Later, In 2021, Netflix paid more than $500 million to air the show's reruns on its OTT platform. Other notable shows that earn their networks in millions through syndication and sales include Two And A Half Men, Married…

How much is Charlie Sheen? ›

Charlie Sheen's net worth is estimated to be over $21 million dollars. Charlie Sheen earned $1 million salary per episode in Two and a half men.

How much do soap opera stars make? ›

Soap opera stars make a wide range of different salaries, but the average soap opera star makes an annual salary of $52,946. Top soap opera stars can earn as much as $300,000 or more per year, while low-level soap opera actors can earn as little as $10,841 per year.

Are actors paid all at once? ›

Generally speaking, for screen work, actors are paid a day rate. If they are needed for more than five days, they are paid a weekly rate. Rates vary if actors are needed for the entirety of the film shoot or the entirety of a television season. Television actors can also be paid per episode.

Which actor turned down the role of Hawkeye Pierce? ›

Alda almost turned down the role of Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H (1972) because he did not want war to be a "backdrop for lighthearted hijinks... "I wanted to show that the war was a bad place to be.". Suffered from a severe case of polio as a young child. At its worst point he was only able to move his left arm.

Do actors get paid for TV repeats? ›

In each case, fees are based on the residual system, with repeats generating payments of 10 or 15 per cent of the original fee. In all other cases, broadcasters are obliged to pay the standard residuals, even when they sell programmes to channels with minuscule audiences.

Do the actors in a Christmas story get royalties? ›

"A Christmas Story" actors still receive royalty checks from the hit holiday movie. “You'll shoot your eye out kid!” “A Christmas Story,” the holiday classic flick filled with one-liners, is the gift that keeps on giving for its actors.

Who makes the most in movie royalties? ›

Highest annual earnings
RankActorEarnings
1Dwayne Johnson$89.4 million
2Chris Hemsworth$76.4 million
3Robert Downey Jr.$66 million
4Akshay Kumar$65 million
6 more rows

Which Christmas song has made the most in royalties? ›

White Christmas” by Bing Crosby £328,000.

What is the highest money making Christmas movie of all time? ›

The Grinch

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