For the tenth and final season, the show was still a ratings juggernaut. So, Warner Bros. didn’t even try to haggle. They offered the cast a flat fee of $1 million per episode again, but this was only a 12-episode season. That’s still $12 million each for less than half a year’s work.
And here’s the ironic kicker: David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston reportedly made a tiny bit more because they were the “stars” in the earlier seasons. But by the end, everyone was equal. Even Matt LeBlanc, whose character Joey had a spinoff, got the same massive paycheck as Aniston. Fair is fair, right?
How Much Money Was The Cast Of 'Friends' Paid Per Episode?
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Now, you might be wondering about “Guest Stars” like Tom Selleck or Julia Roberts. Oh, they made good money too, but nothing like the core six. Tom Selleck, who played Richard, reportedly made $1 million for a single episode in later seasons. And Julia Roberts? She did a guest spot for a cameo that was practically an IOU on a movie set—but it was still a huge deal.
But here’s the real mind-bender: What about the residuals? The cast negotiated a brilliant deal that gives them about 2% of the show’s syndication revenue each year. That means they’re still making millions annually from reruns on Netflix, HBO Max, and cable. They’re literally getting paid while you read this article. I am not bitter. Okay, maybe a little bitter.
