Beyond their initial paychecks, syndicated reruns of beloved shows are a goldmine for these iconic actors. As series find new life on streaming platforms and cable networks, the financial rewards for our favorite TV stars continue to soar. Check out the staggering earnings of these 18 TV legends from their timeless reruns.
Ed O’Neill
While younger audiences may know Ed O’Neill from his role as Jay Pritchett in Modern Family, his iconic portrayal of Al Bundy in Married With Children first brought him widespread recognition in the 1980s and ’90s. This long-running sitcom, with 259 episodes from 1987 to 1997, solidified O’Neill’s career and earned him two Golden Globe awards. Today, O’Neill continues to reap the rewards, reportedly earning $10 million annually in royalties from the show and potential earnings from Modern Family reruns.
David Hasselhoff
Despite its nostalgic summer vibes and enduring popularity, Baywatch, known for its iconic beach scenes and slow-motion runs, continues to generate substantial revenue from reruns nearly two decades after its original airing. David Hasselhoff, the show’s lead actor and an enduring meme icon, starred in 220 episodes as lifeguard Mitch Buchannon and reportedly earns approximately $4 million yearly from the series with its ’70s aesthetics.
Ted Danson
Even with the potential of retirement, many are unaware that his income remains solid. Danson continues to earn an estimated $5 million per annum, mainly due to the enduring popularity of Cheers. Portraying Sam Malone, a charismatic bartender and ex-MLB pitcher, Danson initially faced a rocky start with the series. It nearly faced cancellation after its first season’s low ratings placed it 74th out of 77 shows. Yet, Cheers became a television phenomenon, spanning 11 seasons and 275 episodes.
Jennifer Aniston
It’s no surprise here that Friends remains an unstoppable force on TV. If you start channel surfing and don’t catch a rerun of the show, you should become worried. Since her iconic role as Rachel, Aniston has catapulted into A-list status, expanding her career across film and television. Residuals from the drama have significantly contributed to her earnings, with estimates suggesting Aniston and the original Friends cast collectively earn up to $20 million annually from reruns and streaming alone.
David Caruso
CSI: Miami, a spinoff of CBS’s highly acclaimed police procedural CSI, garnered more favor among certain fans than its predecessor. Starring David Caruso as the central character, Horatio Caine, this Miami-based series enjoys almost perpetual reruns. Despite this, one might assume Caruso and his colleagues would earn substantial annual residuals. Surprisingly, reports indicate that the star earns only approximately 100 grand annually from the show.
Tim Allen
Home Improvement, the ABC sitcom that propelled Tim Allen into the pop culture spotlight during the 1990s, featured the comedian as the affable host of a DIY home renovation program on television. Following a two-year stint in jail for a drug offense, Allen transformed his life and immersed himself fully in comedy. The impact of Home Improvement on Allen’s trajectory was profound, and the show concluded in 1999 after an eight-year run. Allen reportedly garnered a combined $18 million from syndication and residuals.
Maureen McCormick
The Brady Bunch aired for five seasons, concluding its final season in March 1974. It remains an iconic series, referenced in pop culture for over four decades. Maureen McCormick portrayed Marcia, the eldest daughter, who was admired for her beauty and popularity at school. Despite The Brady Bunch’s ongoing popularity and viewership, McCormick and the other cast members do not receive financial benefits due to a contractual clause that excludes residuals.
Jim Parsons
The Big Bang Theory follows a group of nerdy scientists maneuvering life, love, and their quirky friendships. Thanks to the show’s enduring popularity, Jim Parsons still enjoys a significant paycheck even after the series ended. With a successful 12-season run spanning 279 episodes, Parsons earned $1 million per episode by the final season. As a result, he reportedly pulls in nearly $10 million per annum in residuals.
Alan Alda
Alan Alda’s role as Captain Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce in M*A*S*H, a celebrated war comedy-drama series, spanned all 256 episodes over 11 seasons, securing his enduring legacy in TV history. His stellar performance garnered an impressive 25 Emmy nominations, with five victories. Additionally, the residuals, including Alda’s substantial $1 million yearly earnings from reruns, marked a groundbreaking milestone in television’s early days, often viewed on black-and-white screens in countless homes.
Jerry Seinfeld
Seinfeld, famously a sitcom about nothing, is widely regarded as television’s greatest single comedy series. Created by the ingenious duo of Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the series delivered weekly episodes focused on peculiar behaviors, meticulous attention to absurd details, playful antics, and impeccable comedic timing. It’s no surprise that Jerry continues to rake in substantial earnings from the show even today. Remarkably, it’s reported that Seinfeld earns as much as $110 million annually in residuals.
Alex Borstein
Alex Borstein is best known for voicing Lois Griffin on Family Guy. The animated series has a loyal fanbase and remains a staple on TV. Borstein’s work on the show has been highly lucrative, with her earnings from residuals estimated at around $5 million annually. Given these figures, it’s unlikely she’ll be stepping down from this role anytime soon.
George Clooney
Before becoming a Hollywood A-lister, George Clooney was notable for his part as Dr. Doug Ross on ER. The medical drama was a massive hit and still attracts audiences through reruns. It centered around the events within Chicago’s County General Hospital’s emergency room while deeply showing its staff’s personal lives. Clooney’s performance in the show boosted his career and bank account, with rerun earnings estimated to be around $13 million each year.
Ray Romano
During its nine-season run from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, Everybody Loves Raymond captivated television audiences with 210 episodes of Ray Romano’s signature dry, sarcastic humor. The show masterfully depicted the comical interactions of Raymond and his family in Long Island. Romano continues to reap substantial benefits from the show’s reruns as a writer and executive producer, reportedly earning about $18 million per year in residuals.
Hank Azaria
Hank Azaria is a versatile actor known for his multiple roles on The Simpsons, voicing characters like Moe Szyslak, Chief Wiggum, and Apu. The show, boasting 33 seasons and over 700 episodes, continues its unstoppable run. The long-running animated series has been a goldmine for Azaria and his fellow cast members, with the multi-Emmy-winning actor allegedly earning $10 million annually from residuals for his contributions to the show.
Kelsey Grammer
Frasier, a spinoff from the iconic Cheers, spotlighted Grammer’s character, Frasier Crane, a psychiatrist who moves back to Seattle to host a radio show, The Dr. Frasier Crane Show, centered on psychiatry. Premiering just four months after Cheers ended, Frasier ran for 11 seasons, totaling 264 episodes, with Grammer leading the cast until 2004. Reports suggest that Grammer earns up to $13 million annually from residuals.
Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon has been a staple on television for years, most notably as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on NCIS. The crime drama has been an enormous success, and its reruns continue to attract viewers. Harmon’s involvement as an actor and producer ensures he earns a substantial amount from residuals; current reports indicate his per-episode earnings exceed $125,000.
Fred Savage
He started his journey as Kevin Arnold on the beloved series The Wonder Years at the tender age of 11, completely unaware of the show’s future fame. Over six seasons, he brought Kevin to life in all 115 episodes. At just 13, he made history as the youngest nominee for an Emmy in the Outstanding Lead Actor category for a Comedy Series. Despite the show’s massive success, it’s reported that Savage hasn’t received any residuals throughout the years.
Jon Cryer
As one of the initial trio alongside Charlie Sheen and Angus T. Jones, Jon Cryer enjoys a substantial income from his role in the hit sitcom Two and a Half Men. Despite Sheen’s departure, Cryer continued to rank among the highest-paid actors on TV. His yearly residuals are estimated to bring in around $20 million. He even won two Primetime Emmys while the show ran.
