Before there was Katy Perry, there was Jennifer Lopez. In 2012, she agreed to be a judge on “American Idol” for $500,000 per episode. Lopez’s salary was nothing close to Perry’s despite the fact that Lopez has more experience in the industry and more talent in both acting and singing.
She was the perfect choice to judge up-and-coming singers, but she probably should have been paid more. JLo is another example of a pop star who had already made enough money to never have to work again. But she was more than happy to step onto our TV screens and warm our hearts.
Judith Sheindlin – ~$900,000
If you think you haven’t heard of Judith Sheindlin, think again. Sheindlin is the official name of the beloved Judge Judy. Judy makes a living by presiding over real-life court cases, where the audience is able to see her sharp wit at work while she makes her judgments.
While the producers didn’t originally think the show would be a success, they were wrong. Judy makes $47 million for all her many televised appearances, which averages out to about $900,000 per episode. Fun fact, did you know that Judge Judy showed up in a cameo on the Disney+ series "How I Met Your Father?" We're sure she got a nice paycheck for that as well.
Alan Alda – $235,000
Before there was Charlie Sheen, there was Alan Alda. Alda’s salary looks much lower compared to Mr. Sheen’s, but the star was working far before Sheen found success. From 1972-1983, Alda starred as Hawkeye Pierce on "M*A*S*H." He really made the role his own and it would end up being his biggest claim to fame.
In the early days of the show, Alda made just $10,000 per episode. As the show gained popularity, however, Alda’s paycheck was bumped up to $235,000 per episode. That is a huge increase! At the time, he was one of the highest-paid actors on TV.
Kerry Washington – $150,000
Kerry Washington became a household name while playing Olivia Pope on "Scandal." In the political thriller series, Pope is the head of a crisis management firm with intimate ties to the President of the United States. While playing Pope, Washington was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe.
Her talent was reflected not only in her nominations but also in her hefty paycheck of $150,000 per episode. Since the series ended, Washington has starred in "Django Unchained," "The Last King of Scotland," "Ray," and many other notable movies that continue to show off her talent. She really is a jack of all trades.
Emmy Rossum – $350,000
Emmy Rossum stars as Fiona Gallagher in the hit Showtime series "Shameless." The oldest in her family, Fiona takes on a mothering role for her siblings to keep them in line after the family is practically abandoned by their alcoholic father. For her supreme talent, Rossum earned $350,000 per episode.
Over the years, she was also given the opportunity to direct two episodes, expanding her skills in the entertainment world. She left the series after nine seasons, likely in search of bigger and better things. Her husband, Sam Esmail, is also a big hit on TV and beyond, having been the showrunner of the critically acclaimed series "Mr. Robot."