Ray Romano starred in the massively popular “Everybody Loves Raymond.” During nine seasons, the show won 15 Primetime Emmy Awards. The finale alone premiered to an audience of 32.94 million viewers. Considering those large numbers, Romano’s salary also had to be hefty to mimic the success of the show.
He actually earned the place of the second-highest TV earner of all time, raking in $1.7 million per episode. His net worth now stands at $130 million, in large part a reflection of his massive earnings on the sitcom. Since then, Romano has starred in a few movies such as “The Big Sick” and “The Irishman.”
Kim Kardashian – $1 million
"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" isn’t just a way for the family to stay in the spotlight. The show is actually very lucrative for everyone involved, especially as it continues to rise in popularity. While making every detail of her life public might be uncomfortable, the $1 million paycheck per episode likely dulls some of Kim Kardashian’s pain.
At one point, the star even earned a $5 million bonus after convincing her now ex-husband, Kanye West, to join in on the fun. It is safe to say that Kim and the rest of the Kardashians have so much money from that show that they really don't know what to do with it anymore.
The Cast of The Big Bang Theory – $900,000
"The Big Bang Theory" was another sitcom that only got more and more popular during its time on the air. The show was created by Chuck Lorre, the same mind behind Two and a Half Men. The series centers on a group of nerds dating and navigating life together.
Each of the five main characters of The Big Bang Theory—Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, and Kaley Cuoco—all earned $900,000 per episode. After twelve seasons, it’s safe to say that all these actors were pretty comfortable financially. Oh, what we would give for just one more season.
Mindy Kaling – $140,000
After starring in multiple Judd Apatow movies that got her name out into the public, Mindy Kaling took her talent to the next level when she joined the cast of the classic sitcom "The Office." After starring in the hit show for many years, networks decided to give Kaling her own show.
On "The Mindy Project," Kaling brought home $140,000 per episode. The show was a success, but it ended in 2017 after six seasons. Of course, Kaling has been in and around some of the biggest comedy movies of all time. Do you remember when she played Paul Rudd's ex in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin?" No? Probably not the best example.
The Cast of Game Of Thrones – $2 million
"Game of Thrones" was a cultural phenomenon that ended in disaster. But even though the last season was a major disappointment for fans, the cast probably didn’t think so. Some of the most notable stars of the series, including Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Heady, and Kit Harington, earned $2 million per episode.
Honestly, the large paycheck was probably in part a congratulation for not dying during the show. In a series known for killing off characters at random, the fact that these stars survived until the end was a feat in itself. And they got paid richly for their survival.