The Astronomical Sums Of Money That Some Actors Make From Royalty Checks

Many actors aspire to land themselves a regular spot on a sitcom, drama, or comedy TV series. Because once you know your character is a mainstay on a show, there’s no longer the worry of a paycheck that many struggling actors in Hollywood face.

Aside from their usual, nice salaries they make from a role, actors make what are called residuals every time a rerun of a show they were on airs,  allowing them a great source of income long after the show has ended. These residuals can end up being well into the millions for top TV stars.  See which celebrities from our favorite TV shows are making tons off of reruns…

George Clooney

George Clooney was not always the megastar we know him to be today. He became a household name portraying everyone’s favorite pediatrician, Doug Ross on the hit medical drama, ER.

Netting over $10 million in residuals, the actor continues to take on role after role, each getting more interesting than the last. It seems when you’ve got it made, you can continue to make more movies, that is.

Ted Danson

Though he’s had many notable roles, Ted Danson’s stint as lovable bar owner Sam Malone on NBC’s iconic sitcom, Cheers, still stands above all the rest. Cheers was loved by fans and admired by critics, with most of the stars enjoying the spoils for years to come.

After the show ended its eleven-year run, Danson has very much been a consistent TV actor throughout the years, appearing on hit comedies such as Becker, Bored To Death, and The Good Place, as well as the popular drama CSI. He reportedly still makes $5 million from reruns of Cheers.

Courteney Cox

Playing the character of Monica Geller, Courteney Cox was part of the great ensemble cast of Friends, helping it become the megahit sitcom it was and still is in reruns. Her charming  perfect blend of neuroticism and optimism made fans fall in love with her character.

Splitting a cool $20 million a year from residuals amongst the other actors, the actress still pursues other projects, doing everything she can to stay relevant, including the short-lived Cougar Town. She hasn’t been in a ton much else other than the Scream franchise.

David Caruso

David Caruso has since retired from acting and producing, but nobody can forget his perfectly-timed quips on CSI: Miami, week after week. If it weren’t for Caruso, the show likely wouldn’t have had nearly as much personality.

According to sources, the actor is living it up on his residuals, making about $100,000 per year from the show. The crime scene show has  reportedly made an incredible $6 billion over its lifespan.

Marg Helgenberger

Marg Helgenberger earned her fame on the smash-hit, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, with her beauty, wit, and charm. Later on, she would describe her time on the show as a “comfortable niche” showing the caliber of the actress she was.

Finally ending in 2015 after 15 years, the residuals from the show would begin to pour in for the actress. She makes about $10,000 in residuals from the show, but earned about $390,000 per episode in the six seasons she was on.

Ray Romano

Ray Romano performed his first late-night comedy set on The Late Show with David Letterman, and from there a show was developed with him as the star. The series, Everybody Loves Raymond, became one of the most successful family sitcoms ever.

After nine successful seasons, treating each episode as a final project of the week, the show ended in 2005. His residuals are a substantial $18 million per year, according to Forbes.

Carmen Electra

Baywatch offered viewers exactly what they’d expect from the show, seeing attractive lifeguards running around in their swimsuits. One of the people who made a name for herself was Carmen Electra, winning over the male audience with an incredible level of ease.

By the height of the show, it enjoyed around 1.1 billion viewers even though critics were harsh on the storyline of the entire series, claiming it was too shallow to last. The show still airs in reruns all over the globe, providing the cast with some nice residual payments. Electra herself is worth over $10 million, which she certainly owes to the success of Baywatch.

Sofia Vergara

Modern Family wormed its way into the hearts and minds of viewers across the country. Running for 11 seasons, the show gives a glimpse into the lives of blended families in the heart of America. It also turned the beautiful Sofia Vergara into a household name.

When the show ended in 2020, its stars looked forward to residuals of around $500,000 a year, with the chance of that amount increasing over time. Producers are still discussing the idea of a spinoff, which may soon be in the works.

Alan Alda

M*A*S*H was a sitcom with the rare ability to take a serious subject matter, turn it on its head and make the audience burst into laughter, with ease. Alan Alda soon became a fan-favorite, raking in a cool $10,000 per episode, which was pretty substantial for the early 1970s.

Alda has become a beloved actor in tons of projects since the show ended in 1983, but he will always be Hawkeye Pierce to some, as the series remains a classic TV comedy to this day. The actor pulls in around $1 million a year in royalties alone from M*A*S*H, which lasted 11 seasons.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Buffy The Vampire Slayer was a TV adaptation of the teen thriller movie by the same name. Sarah Michelle Gellar played the blonde, preppy student by day who fights the darkness when the sun goes down.

Over the span of 144 episodes, Gellar charmed viewers with her quick wit and even quicker blows to the dark forces. Since the show’s finale in 2003, the actress brings in a minimum of $1 million in royalties annually.

Edie Falco

The Sopranos had fans barely holding on by the time the following episode would air, with Edie Falco playing the wife of the titular main character of Tony Soprano. HBO made the perfect choice in casting the actress alongside James Gandolfini.

To date, Falco has enjoyed around $26 million in royalties, along with three Emmys out of a total of six nominations for her portrayal of Carmela. She would even win Outstanding Lead Actress before moving on to other shows.

David Hasselhoff

If you were alive in the ‘90s, odds are you had watched an episode of Baywatch. The show was iconic for its opening title sequence, as well as the stunning men and women in the cast. People just couldn’t take their eyes off the show. David Hasselhoff launched his way into the Hollywood zeitgeist from being the lead, Mitch, on the show.

Though the show didn’t make too much compared to other shows at the time, the star continues to enjoy annual residuals of around $4 million. Returning for a special cameo in the 2017 film, Baywatch, was probably a nice moment of nostalgia.

Jennifer Aniston

Yet another Friends alumnus is the ageless Jennifer Aniston who played Rachel on the show. She would have offers falling at her feet long after the show ended and Aniston continues to reap the rewards.

Like her fellow castmates, she gets her fraction of the $20 million a year in residuals just like her other castmates. With that, the actress could easily retire today. The fact that she continues to take on new and challenging roles proves just how much she loves acting.

Peter Dinklage

It’s no surprise that the main cast members of the wildly successful show Game Of Thrones have made a great deal of money. Peter Dinklage, who won several Emmy awards playing Tyrion Lannister on the show,  made $1.1 million per episode for the last two seasons.

The actor struggled financially, acting in plays that paid $50, and turning down commercials that wanted him to play a leprechaun. He has said that he couldn’t even afford his rat-infested apartment. He’s come a long way, now with a net worth of about $25 million.

Mark Harmon

NCIS stars Mark Harmon, playing the lead role of Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, leading a crack team to solve the toughest cases out there. The actor pulls in an impressive $125,000 per episode for his good work.

To date, there have been two spin-offs of the show, one taking place in Los Angeles and the other in New Orleans. It seems the show has enough momentum to stay on the air for years to come, though Harmon announced in 2021 that this 19th season would be his last with this show.

Jim Parsons

The Big Bang Theory made being a nerd pretty darn cool, for once. No wonder fans flocked to Jim Parsons’ character of Sheldon. Airing for 12 seasons, the show earned its rightful place amongst television royalty.

Since the show ended, Parsons has been looking forward to his guaranteed $10 million a year, just from reruns. With all that extra cash, the actor has found time to work on more personal creative projects over the years.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Julia Louis-Dreyfus has had the fortune to be on three separate successful comedies, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Veep, and what she is best-known for, her portrayal of Elaine on Seinfeld.  She helped establish the truly ensemble cast of the show, making it the hit it was and is to this day.

While her, Jason Alexander, who portrayed George, and Michael Richards, who played Kramer, do not earn residuals from reruns, they did earn $1 million per episode in the final season, and do earn a percentage of the DVD sales.

John Stamos

Full House was a smashing success in its time, which makes it that much more surprising at just how pitiful the actors’ residuals actually are. The residuals only come in around $2,000 per actor each year.

The show actually cost $1.3 million to make each episode during its later seasons, though even with consistently high ratings, producers still couldn’t afford to keep the showing going, deciding to end the series in 1995.

David Schwimmer

David Schwimmer played Monica’s nerdy brother Ross on Friends, another cog in the wheel that was the hit comedy series. Schwimmer has acted in a variety of roles since playing this famous paleontologist. He has had small parts in the miniseries Band of Brothers and The People v. O.J. Simpson.

Lasting for ten seasons, Friends would rake in a lot of dough for Warner Brothers, gaining a total of 52.5 million viewers by its end. Schwimmer can still count on his share of the $20 million a year, just from those sweet residuals.

Maureen McCormick

If you think of wholesome, family television, The Brady Bunch immediately comes to mind. Actress Maureen McCormick actually began with a successful career starring in commercials before joining the hit show.

According to the cast, residuals were not easy to come by, despite the lasting success of the show. McCormack actually only sees a check when it comes to spin-offs or clips of the show being used in a film.

Loretta Swit

M*A*S*H might’ve been the only show to put a comedic take on life at a military base, with Loretta Swit being an integral part of the cast. The show itself was a hugely popular series, after the release of the movie of the same name.

Even though the cast enjoyed a salary that was in the millions, royalties were far from anything substantial. Coming in at only $1.50 per episode, Swit has no choice but to continue to pursue other projects.

Ed O’Neill

Known more for his most recent role on the beloved show Modern Family, Ed O’Neill made his mark as the trash-talking, average Joe in Married…with Children. Katey Segal played his sassy wife, Peg, providing the perfect counterpart.

Year after year, O’Neill enjoys a healthy $10 million in total residuals from the show. As impressive as that amount may be, his royalties from Modern Family will likely prove to be that much more impressive in the long run.

Matt LeBlanc

Matt LeBlanc was another actor to achieve big fame from the sitcom Friends, along with fellow co-stars. After the success of the show, LeBlanc would do his best to make the spin-off sitcom, Joey, become a hit, but to no avail.

Sadly, the spin-off would be canceled as a result of such low ratings, despite initial hopefulness at the beginning. Lucky for the actor, $20 million a year for the lasting success of Friends covers up the overall disappointment.

Betty White

The Golden Girls was wholesome American TV is at its best. Betty White led the charge of a group of elderly gals, dealing with the unpredictable and sometimes unfair points of life in their twilight years.

White has been a favorite for decades now. From that show alone, the nearly 100-year-old actress receives healthy financial injections of $3 million a year and continues to win over the hearts of younger generations. Even the house where filming took place has celebrity status.

David Hyde Pierce

Many viewers considered the early ‘90s to be the golden age for sitcoms. The show Frasier, featuring David Hyde Pierce, enjoyed a long streak of success until the finale in May of 2004, being called the “smartest show on television.”

Pierce and his co-stars look forward to their healthy share of the show’s $40 million in royalties, every year. It definitely provides a nice cushion, as they’ve found other smaller projects to be a part of since its finale.

Morena Baccarin

Playing Dr. Leslie Thompkins on the DC series, Gotham opposite Ben McKenzie’s Jim Gordon, the two characters fall in love and eventually marry. Ironically, the pair are actually married in real life too.

Much like her husband, co-star Baccarin receives residuals of around $10,000 yearly, with the possibility of growth over the coming years. As it turns out, sometimes it pays to mix work and pleasure.

Drake

Before he was the superstar rapper known around the world, Drake was a scrawny kid on the set of Degrassi: The Next Generation. He played Jimmy Brooks, a basketball player of course, for a total of 145 episodes.

Ending in 2008, fans believed his residuals may have built up over the years, especially now that his star power has entered the stratosphere. Funny enough, Drake posted a photo of one residual check totaling a measly $8.62.

Lea Michele

Glee was one of those rare shows that was a musical, but also a drama, comedy, and coming of age story all wrapped up in one. Playing Rachel, Lea Michele sang her way into the hearts of millions before the show ultimately ended.

The show was so popular, that she and her co-stars were easily making $1 million per episode by the end of the sixth seasons. Unfortunately for the stars, FOX owned the rights to the show and didn’t offer any residuals.

Claire Foy

The Crown offered viewers a fictional look at what goes on behind the walls of the English Royal family, across many different eras. Netflix owns and maintains the rights to the show, starring Claire Foy as a young Queen Elizabeth II.

The story begins early on in the Queen’s reign, rising to power at a younger age than most. Despite the immense popularity of the show, none of the cast has any residuals coming their way any time soon.

Jerry Seinfeld

Seinfeld became an institution after only a few seasons, with characters as witty and hilarious as the day is long. Jerry Seinfeld not only starred in the show but was the show’s creator, all while performing stand-up for a living.

His co-creator Larry David and the actor haven’t had to worry about money ever since, easily raking in $110 million annually. That’s not a typo. And that hasn’t stopped the comedian from still appearing on tv screens everywhere, through the hit series, Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.

Dr. Phil McGraw

The Dr. Phil show has been going strong on daytime TV and has no signs of slowing down. Dr. Phil himself comes across the most troubled individuals and offers them paths to a better life, freeing them completely.

The psychologist turned daytime host was first endorsed by the great Oprah Winfrey, with viewers eating up every riveting moment of the show. Residuals are reportedly around $10 million a year, which makes sense, considering reruns are aired on the regular.

Christina Applegate

Ed O’Neill wasn’t the only one from Married…with Children to become a household name. Christina Applegate wasn’t only gorgeous but had the acting chops to contend with any other actor on the show, and the live audience literally whooped whenever she entered a scene.

The daughter of a record-producing father and an actress/singer mother, Applegate learned exactly what it took to make it in the industry. Not only is she killing it with huge residuals, but she continues to work as an actress, most recently on the Netflix show, Dead To Me.

Kelsey Grammer

Frasier was considered, in its time a form of “highbrow” sitcom for viewers who were tired of the same comedy formula in every show out there. That fresh approach paid off, with Kelsey Grammer leading the charge.

Funny enough, many don’t know the show was actually a spin-off of Cheers but took on a life of its own. Grammer did such a good job on the show, the studio continues to shell out a whopping $13 million per year.

Lucille Ball

I Love Lucy brought people together like no other show has been able to, bringing the perfect mix of hilarity and drama. Lucille Ball knew how to work the screen like few other actresses were able to.

Lucille Ball started a production company with her on-screen husband, buying rights to the show. Having those rights entitles both actors to some serious heft residual payments every single year.

Jon Cryer

Two and a Half Men made audiences howl from its very first season, with Jon Cryer supporting the lead role played by Charlie Sheen, before he was replaced by Ashton Kutcher. Lasting for an impressive 12 seasons, Cryer enjoyed the spoils of his time on the show.

He would end up pulling in $620,000 an episode, now receiving residuals that likely aren’t too far off his original salary. The actor thoroughly enjoyed his time on-set, despite what sounded like a interesting work environment from co-star Charlie Sheen.

Shelley Long

Actress Shelly Long embodied the American sweetheart viewers simply couldn’t resist. Starring on the hit show, Cheers, Long had no problem fitting into the ragtag group of barflies, week after week.

The show was syndicated in 1987 with its initial distributor, Paramount. Considering the show moved around so many networks, it isn’t that surprising to see the actress bring in a million a year in residuals.

Sam Waterston

Sam Waterston gave an incredible performance on every episode of Law & Order, week after week. Add to that his award-winning movie career and you’ve got yourself one heck of an actor.

Waterston bring in about $5,000 in residuals from the long-running show. Even so, the actor shows no signs of retiring any time soon, continuing to delight fans. And there are rumors that the show, which ended in 2010, is set to have a revival in 2022.

Johnny Galecki

While The Big Bang Theory‘s star was certainly Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki as quirky, open-hearted Leonard, a hopeful nerd looking to fit in just a little bit more, was one of the big factors for the show’s success. Over 12 seasons, fans grew to love his character more and more.

From residuals alone, the actor sees $10 million a year, though he’s always looking for more opportunities to expand his range. Lucky for fans, the spin-off series, Young Sheldon has been renewed for further seasons.

Alex Borstein

Alex Borstein is an actress of many talents, appearing back in the sketch comedy show MADtv before landing her breakthrough voice-acting role in the hit cartoon, Family Guy. After renegotiating her contract, she’s earned $225,000 per episode.

From reruns, Borstein is rewarded with around $10 million annually from residuals from the cartoon. She’s since branched out to take on a more prominent acting role in the series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, pursuing the opportunity to expand her acting range.

Tom Ellis

The series Lucifer, starring Tom Ellis has had an interesting run. First appearing on FOX, the show was canceled before the plot could be resolved, leaving fans hanging. After a huge outcry, Netflix made the move to continue the show.

Ellis pulls in a solid $50,000 per episode while adding healthy residual checks that will be sure to increase as time goes on. Fans have fawned over the star for years, even starting fan clubs to worship the handsome actor.

Carol Burnett

Carol Burnett is nothing short of a comedy icon, spanning decades on the screens of Americans. The Carol Burnett Show made people howl at the sheer comedic genius of the actress, week after week.

Surprisingly, Burnett was never able to negotiate a contract that she was satisfied with for the payment of royalties for her classic show. To this day, she barely makes any income from reruns, focusing her efforts on newer projects.

Tim Allen

Home Improvement offered viewers life lessons, all while injecting comedy to ease audiences into feeling all warm and fuzzy. Tim Allen played the head of the household, family man, handyman, and a real everyman.

The actor receives residuals monthly, which so far have totaled a stunning $18 million. Allen has since played similar roles, most recently on the hit show Last Man Standing, but none of the roles have ever quite lived up to the original.

Jason Alexander

Another actor in the Seinfeld family was the lovable Jason Alexander, playing the quirky, hot-headed George Costanza. The show really launched Alexander’s career, offering him more acting opportunities afterwards.

What makes the arrangement strange is while the actors were paid handsomely when they were working on the show, the royalties were a mere $250 per rerun. In its last season, the actors demanded $1 million per episode, knowing how big the show had become.

Tom Selleck

In the ‘80s, Tom Selleck basically owned the screen, especially with his role as the titular star of Magnum, P.I. CBS made a killing while the show was on the air, raking in more than enough to own the airwaves.

Even with the massive success of the show, residuals were never given to the cast, which must’ve been disappointing. ABC could’ve been more generous, but it seems they won out over the actors in this one.

Johnny Lee Miller

As a remix of the classic tale of Sherlock Holmes, Elementary offered a glimpse of the classic detective as a victim of the modern world. Actor Johnny Lee Miller perfectly captured the combination of angst and genius needed for the role.

Running from 2012 until 2019, Miller acted alongside Lucy Liu, the more level-headed Watson on the show. Residuals are more than reasonable for the actor, though he continues to seek larger roles, despite having a net worth of $14 million.

Nancy Cartwright

If you were growing up in the ‘90s, you watched The Simpsons. It wasn’t just a cartoon, it was part of the zeitgeist. Voice actress, Nancy Cartwright portrays the role of Bart Simpson, with her voice being perfect for a high-pitched pre-teen boy.

The show has made it to a record 31 seasons and is still going. Cartwright and her castmates bring in up to $20 million total, though keep in mind she makes an additional $400,000 for each new episode.

Patrick Stewart

Trekkies are an interesting breed, constantly debating who made the best captain for the Starship Enterprise, Captain Kirk or Captain Picard. Actor Patrick Stewart made a strong argument for his portrayal of Jean-Luc Picard on the show Star Trek: The Next Generation.

At the peak of the show, Stewart pulled $100,000 per episode, making far more for Star Trek movies. Even today, writers are coming up with sequels and spin-offs, quickly increasing the actor’s residuals.

Tracey Ullman

Anyone who has an entire show named after them is clearly a big deal, with Tracey Ullman being no exception. The Tracey Ullman Show aired in 1987, offering viewers a little taste of what it’s like to be her. The hit cartoon The Simpsons actually started as a short on her show.

Airing for four seasons, Ullman brings in around $5,000 per rerun which is far lower than industry standards, but the actress doesn’t seem to mind. This just proves it’s not all about the money.

Daniel J. Travanti

There’s no shortage of police dramas these days, but Hill Street Blues still stands the test of time. Starring Daniel J. Travanti, the actor won a Golden Globe and two Emmys for his role as Captain Furillo.

Residual checks rolled in after the show ended, with the amounts dwindling over the years. Luckily, the actor has moved on to other shows, including Law & Order and CSI, making sure he stays relevant in Hollywood.

Ricky Gervais

The Office was a phenomenon in America, but before that, the show tested the waters across the pond. Ricky Gervais not only played the main character but created, wrote, and helped direct the original series.

Though the show only lasted two seasons, compared to nine seasons of the American version, Gervais still gets those royalty checks each year, earning 10% of the show’s profits.

Linda Robson

Birds of a Feather was a British hit-sitcom on the BBC from the late ‘80s to the late ‘90s. The show would last nine years before being rebooted over 15 years later. To date, there’s actually been a “thirteenth” season in the works.

As for residuals, Robson claims, “repeats of the original aren’t shown on terrestrial channels very much so I get a couple of hundred pounds now and again.”

Tom Kenny

As the voice of SpongeBob Squarepants, Tom Kenny delivers a quirky, unique, and perfectly zany performance for the iconic cartoon character. Kenny continues to provide the voice for the character, and has since it was created in 1999.

As of now, there have been 13 seasons of the beloved cartoon. The actor always expects his residuals every year, which so far have totaled in the millions and are inevitably scheduled to increase for years to come.

Patricia Heaton

Everybody Loves Raymond wasn’t just about Ray, there was also the fictional friends and family of the main character. Patricia Heaton played the strong, if not often-irate wife on the show, dishing it out as much as she took it.

Residuals for the actors are nothing short of remarkable, averaging around $5.2 million a year for the actress. Reruns aired on so many stations, it no surprise that the money continues to roll in every year.

John Goodman

Playing the husband of Roseanne on the classic sitcom, by the same name, John Goodman knocked his role out of the park, bringing real depth to a sitcom spouse. Beginning in 1988, the show ended in 1997, but renewed in 2018, winning the hearts of so many fans.

Goodman admitted he was heartbroken when the show ended initially in 1997, but after its revival in 2018, it was then renamed to The Conners after Roseanne was fired for tweets found to be racist. Goodman was paid $250,000 per episode of the revived series.

Lisa Kudrow

Though she may not have enjoyed the lasting success that some of her Friends co-stars did, Lisa Kudrow can still look forward to a $20 million check every single year. The show was such a success it continues to win over new fans today.

Starring as the quirky, Phoebe Buffay, Kudrow injected just the right amount of humor to make her character lovable, rather than tragic. The show lasted 10 seasons, with fans glued to the screen for every single one of them.

Chad Michael Murray

Playing Lucas Scott on the show One Tree Hill, Chad Michael Murray was cast as the “good son” to his on-screen half-brother, Nathan. Airing on the WB/CW in 2003 the show ran until 2012 after finishing out the story.

Even though Murray hasn’t played the part in a while, his residuals are still working hard for him, which apparently run around $100,000 a year, easy. Not a bad cushion for someone looking to expand their horizons.

Lesley Manville

Mum may be the epitome of a name for a BBC show, exemplifying a longing for the “good old days” when things were a little simpler. Actress Lesley Manville starred in the comedy series for the length of it before its 2019 cancellation.

Surprisingly with all the critical acclaim, Manville only sees residuals of around $2,000 per year, which is well below what’s expected of a show of that caliber. Nevertheless, the talented actress carries on with grace and style.

Hank Azaria

The Simpsons is one of the most popular shows of all time. Aside for its great writing, the longest-running cartoon is known for its incredible voice actors. One of the most popular castmembers is the talented Hank Azaria.

With the show’s incredible success over the years, he makes $300,000 per episode, hauling in over $6 million per season. While Azaria recently stepped aside from playing the Indian convenience storeowner Apu, he still voices tons of other characters on the show.

Shay Mitchell

Pretty Little Liars began as a series of novels before it ever made it to television. One of the lead roles, played by Shay Mitchell was a perfect fit for the actress since she was a pro at playing horror and dramatic-type roles.

Even with the show ending in 2017, residuals continue to roll in, providing a healthy boost for the actress to expand on her already promising career in film. At this rate, she’ll probably earn more rituals as time goes on.

Tim Daly

Wings is considered as a sort of an “awkward stepchild” of Seinfeld, never catching on to nearly the same degree with viewers. Tim Daly played the lead role, as a part-owner of a small-scale commuter plane service.

In this case, with the show’s fairly low profile and modest ratings, Daly can only look forward to a meager $1,000 a year in residuals. It really seems that not everyone has the same treatment in Hollywood.

French Stewart

3rd Rock From The Sun was really a breakout success, though it seemed to explode in popularity just as quickly as it fizzled out. French Stewart took on the role of Harry Solomon, the only son within a family of aliens visiting Earth.

Running until May of 2001, NBC owned the rights to the show and didn’t make any effort to share the wealth with the former cast since the show ended. This would result in a pitiful $1,000 a year or less in residuals for the cast.

Paul Fusco

A man of multiple talents, Paul Fusco was both an actor and a professional puppeteer, not to mention the brains behind the show Alf. It centered around a strange, hairy alien that somehow crash-landed in the garage of a suburban family.

Fusco created the show with Tom Patchett, which aired for four seasons before being canceled due to low ratings in 1990, based on a decision by the network NBC. The actors receive a pittance of $300 per rerun.

Michael J. Fox

Family Ties was one of those shows that could melt the heart of any viewer, just the same way Michael J. Fox could win any of them over in his youth. Airing for seven seasons, Fox did a beautiful job of keeping the show going as Alex Keaton.

All good things though must come to an end, and NBC finished it up with a neatly-packed, two-part season finale. Apparently, the pay was so low apparently that the actor had no choice but to hitchhike to work!

Fred Savage

The Wonder Years was a beloved TV series that focused on the innocence of being a teenager while dealing with the challenges that come with growing up. Fred Savage’s likable portrayal of Kevin Arnold were just one reason why this show was so popular.

Despite the show doing well over the course of six seasons, the network was able to use a loophole to avoid paying residuals to any of the actors. It was an especially rough deal considering how well the show did.

Henry Winkler

Just the mention of Happy Days will have fans singing the incredibly catchy theme song of the show that first aired in 1974. Henry Winkler did a fantastic job playing The Fonz, the leading tough guy with a heart of gold.

Winkler and co-star Ron Howard eventually had to file a lawsuit against the network to get the pay they were due after a whopping 255 episodes. They settled on $65,000 to both actors, as well as a moderate amount in residuals.

Ben McKenzie

Gotham took place in the world of DC’s Batman, without ever actually having Bruce Wayne become the legendary superhero. Previously starring on The O.C., BenMcKenzie plays the role of a young, detective Jim Gordon, hunting down criminals, some of which are iconic Batman villains.

Earning a solid $10,000 per year, the actor did his best to exhibit the grittiness needed to carry a show like Gotham, without having too much despair to root for the heroes. It seems they did achieve that fine balance, after all.

Trey Parker

South Park started out as a cartoon known for just having sophomoric humor, but slowly evolved to be a more subversive parody of current events. Airing on Comedy Central, it would’ve actually been canceled long ago if it weren’t entirely animated.

Voice actor and co-creator Trey Parker had a knack for showcasing the ridiculousness of the modern world, leaving nobody safe from being made fun of. To date, over $500 million in royalties have been racked up from the show.

Stephen Amell

DC decided to bring fans what they called the Arrowverse after creating the series Arrow, starring Stephen Arnell as the hero by the same name. The superhero uses his extraordinary bow and sense of justice to bring down evil.

With a total of $100,000 in residuals per year, Arnell continues to push himself in every role he finds himself. After 160 episodes, the show has come to a close but that doesn’t mean the actor’s career will cease any time soon.

Matt Stone

Trey Parker is the co-creator of South Park with the aforementioned Matt Stone. After the success of the series and their play The Book Of Mormon, the duo’s combined net worth now totals over $500 million.

Now in its 23rd season, South Park has no signs of slowing down any time soon. Though the show is meant for adults due to its mature (and immature) content, a wide range of ages watches it regularly. It’s no real wonder how the show has lasted this long.

Seth MacFarlane

Aside from The Simpsons, Family Guy holds the title of the second-longest-running animated comedy of any  television series. The cartoon has lasted an incredible 18 seasons, with more in the works.

Creator and the voice of the characters Peter, Brian, and Stewie Griffin, Seth MacFarlane minimum of $225,000 per episode. As a syndicated comedy series estimated to be worth an insane $2 billion, residuals are no doubt in the millions.

Desi Arnaz

I Love Lucy wasn’t just a show, it was a sensation for viewers across the globe. Desi Arnaz would play the husband to Lucille Ball, the show’s quirky female lead. The case was the same in real life, though the pair divorced in 1960.

The pair started the company Desilu, which they would sell to CBS in 2018, only after many millions in residuals. Although the divorce was reportedly messy, the two learned to be friends and reached common ground.

Bob Denver

Gilligan’s Island starred Bob Denver as the leading man, being part of a group of seven shipwrecked on a deserted island. It ran for several seasons during the ‘60s, and became an iconic TV show.

Sadly, Denver passed away from cancer in 2005, nearly forty years after the final episode aired. Over the last 38 years, the show has brought in around $90 million in residuals alone, making the former cast live like Mr. and Mrs. Howell.

Rose McIver

Rose McIver plays the lead in the strange series, iZombie, a supernatural crime drama where she plays an amateur zombie detective. Adapted from a DC Comics series, Vertigo, the series aired in 2015 and ended as of 2019.

The show featured another Disney alum, Aly Michalka, alongside the star. Many see the series as a comedic take of The Walking Dead, receiving a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is pretty impressive considering how tough the TV show industry is to get a hit.

Aidan Turner

Starring on the BBC One’s Poldark, Aidan Turner starred as the lead since the show first aired in March of 2015. Running for five seasons, it received rave reviews from critics before finishing in late 2019.

The show barely pays anything in residuals, with the actors making income from their current projects rather than waiting around for a check. It’s unclear how much the show makes from residuals at all.

Charlie Sheen

Two and a Half Men starred Charlie Sheen as a carefree, California playboy living it up on the beaches of Malibu. Playing Charlie Harper, the actor appeared in eight seasons before being written out of the show, after Sheen got in a public feud with producer Chuck Lorre.

The actor was reportedly incredibly difficult and unprofessional onset, often showing up intoxicated. Sheen nevertheless continues to see huge residuals in the tens of millions, year after year.

Joanna Lumley

Absolutely Fabulous was a BBC sitcom that aired in the early ‘90s through to the 2000s, with Joanna Lumley starring on the series. Funny enough, residual checks were a sad $45 per year, which surprised the cast.

Airing in 1992, the show lasted all the way until 2012, over the course of five seasons. It ran for a total of 39 episodes, along with seven specials specifically centering around the hilarious middle-aged ladies of the show.

Matthew Perry

It’s no surprise to see another Friends cast member on this list, considering it was one of the most famous shows of all time. Matthew Perry had no problem splitting the massive $20 million in residuals per year with co-stars.

Seeing that reruns air pretty much every day of the show, it’s no surprise that the amount of residuals is that high. Sadly for fans, the actor has admitted he has absolutely zero interest in a Friends reboot.

Jerry Orbach

Law & Order seems like it has always been on television, but the truth is it began in the early ‘90s and ran all the way until around a decade ago. The show was sold to basic cable, who then decided the residuals to be paid.

Actor Jerry Orbach sadly passed in 2004, though his estate continues to receive the six percent doled out to the cast, to this day. Even after his passing, fans still pay tribute by watching him on reruns.

Jackie Gleason

The Honeymooners has earned its place in Hollywood history, with Jackie Gleason forever remaining the face of a dysfunctional little family. The show surprisingly only had a single season, but that season lasted 39 episodes.

A depiction of the life of a blue-collar man in the workforce, Gleason was able to bring in $70,000 back in the ‘50s which is a heck of a lot by today’s standards. Even so, the actor never saw a single royalty check.

Bea Arthur

Golden Girls was formed as an idea in 1984, pitching the idea of a group of hilarious older ladies living life on their own terms. By the peak of the show, the leading ladies including Bea Arthur would bring in a million a year.

The network jumped at the idea to make the show, with their excitement validated when the first season was met with a ton of excitement from viewers. The show would make its way to primetime for many years.