This is a list of people starring on American television that are the highest-paid, based on verified sources for each person.
TV and streaming salaries per episode + Name Program Role Salary Inflation adjusted Year Jennifer AnistonThe Morning ShowAlex Levy $4 million $ 2019– Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston Finally Give Us a Peek at The Morning Show. W. 25 March 2019.Inside Apple's Long, Bumpy Road to Hollywood. ‘’The Hollywood Reporter’’. 16 October 2019. Reese WitherspoonBradley JacksonCharlie SheenTwo and a Half MenCharlie Harper$1.8-2 million$2010–11 Ray RomanoEverybody Loves RaymondRaymond Barone$1.825 million$ 2003–05 Kelsey GrammerFrasierFrasier Crane$1.6 million$ 2002–04 Chris PrattThe Terminal ListJames Reece$1.4 million$2022– Tim AllenHome ImprovementTim Taylor$4 million$ 1998–99 Jennifer AnistonFriendsRachel Green $1.1 million $ 2003 and 2004 Courteney CoxMonica GellerLisa KudrowPhoebe BuffayMatt LeBlancJoey TribbianiDavid SchwimmerRoss GellerMatthew PerryChandler BingJerry SeinfeldSeinfeldJerry Seinfeld$1 million $ 1997–98 Helen HuntMad About YouJamie Buchman $1 million $1998–99Paul ReiserPaul BuchmanJames GandolfiniThe SopranosTony Soprano$1 million$ 2006–07 Jennifer AnistonFriendsRachel Green $1 million $ 2002 Courteney CoxMonica GellerLisa KudrowPhoebe BuffayMatt LeBlancJoey TribbianiDavid SchwimmerRoss GellerMatthew PerryChandler BingKaley CuocoThe Big Bang TheoryPenny $1 million $ 2015–17 Johnny GaleckiLeonard HofstadterJim ParsonsSheldon CooperSimon HelbergHoward Wolowitz 2017 Kunal NayyarRaj KoothrappaliNicole KidmanBig Little LiesCeleste Wright $1 million $ 2019 Apple shelling out millions for TV talent reportedly helped Reese Witherspoon triple her salary on season 2 of HBO's 'Big Little Lies'. Business Insider. 17 January 2018.Reese WitherspoonMadeline Martha MackenzieJeff BridgesThe Old ManDan Chase$1 million$2021–24Sarah Jessica ParkerAnd Just Like That Carrie Bradshaw $1 million $ 2021–25 Roseanne Barr RoseanneRoseanne Conner$875,000$1996-97 John Goodman Roseanne/The ConnersDan Conner$860,000$1996-97; 2019-25 Ashton Kutcher Two and a Half MenWalden Schmidt$755,000$2014 Drew CareyThe Drew Carey ShowDrew Carey$750,000$ 2001–04 David Hyde PierceFrasierNiles Crane$750,000$ 2004Lauren GrahamGilmore Girls: A Year in the LifeLorelai Gilmore$750,000$2016Alexis BledelRory Gilmore Bryan Cranston Your Honor Michael Desiato $750,000 $ 2019–2020 Hugh LaurieHouseDr. Gregory House$700,000$2011–12Andrew LincolnThe Walking DeadRick Grimes$650,000$2017–18 Kate Winslet Mare of Easttown Mare Sheehan $650,000 $ 2019–2020 Jon CryerTwo and a Half MenAlan Harper $620,000$ 2013–15Julia Louis-DreyfusSeinfeldElaine Benes$600,000$1997–98Jason AlexanderGeorge CostanzaMichael RichardsCosmo KramerEric McCormackWill & GraceWill Truman$600,000$2005–06Debra MessingGrace AdlerMegan MullallyKaren WalkerSean HayesJack McFarland Steve Martin Only Murders in the Building Charles-Haden Savage $600,000 $ 2020– Martin Short Oliver Putnam Selena Gomez Mabel Mora Gillian Anderson The First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt $600,000$ 2021– Viola Davis Michelle Obama Michelle Pfeiffer Betty Ford Pedro Pascal The Last of Us Joel Miller $600,000 $ 2021–Ellen PompeoGrey's AnatomyMeredith Grey$575,000$2005– Alec Baldwin Dr. Death Robert Henderson $575,000 $ 2020–2021 Norman ReedusThe Walking DeadDaryl Dixon$550,000$2017–18Julia Louis-DreyfusVeepSelina Meyer $500,000 $ 2019 You Know Julia Louis-Dreyfus Could Be a Billionaire in Her Lifetime? You Do Now. 23 July 2023. Julie Bowen Modern Family Claire Dunphy $500,000 $ 2017-2020 Ty Burrell Phil Dunphy Jesse Tyler Ferguson Mitchell Pritchett Ed O'Neill Jay Pritchett Eric Stonestreet Cameron Tucker Sofía Vergara Gloria PritchettJames GandolfiniThe SopranosTony Soprano$400,000$ 2003-2004 Sarah Jessica ParkerSex and the City Carrie Bradshaw $100,000-150,000 $ 2001
Television hosts
Network primetime salaries per season Name Program Role Salary Year Simon CowellThe X FactorJudge$75 million2012–13Ariana GrandeThe VoiceCoach$25 million2021Katy PerryAmerican IdolJudge2017–18Jennifer LopezJudge$20 million2011–12Christina AguileraThe VoiceCoach2011–16Aguilera sources:Mariah Carey American IdolJudge$18 million2012–13Ryan SeacrestAmerican IdolHost$15 million2013–16Britney SpearsThe X FactorJudge2012Miley CyrusThe VoiceCoach$13 million2016–17Adam Levine2016–18Blake Shelton2016–18Kelly Clarkson$12 million2018Shakira2013Gwen Stefani2017Nicki MinajAmerican IdolJudge2012–13
Daytime annual salaries Name Program Role Salary Year Ellen DeGeneresThe Ellen DeGeneres ShowHost$50 million2017 Judith SheindlinJudge JudyJudge$47 million2013 Barbara WaltersThe ViewHost$13 million2007Bob BarkerThe Price Is RightGame show host$10 million2001
News presenters Name Program Role Salary Year Matt LauerTodayAnchor$21 millionMeredith VieiraTodayAnchor$15 millionKatie CouricCBS Evening NewsNews anchor$15 million
References