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.”
Jennifer Lopez – $500,000
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.
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.
James Gandolfini – $1 million
James Gandolfini starred in "The Sopranos," an HBO drama focused on a New Jersey-based gangster family. The show quickly became a massive hit and is now considered to be one of the best TV shows ever made - right up there with the likes of "The Wire," "Game of Thrones," and others.
As Tony Soprano, Gandolfini definitely benefited from The Sopranos’ success. By the final episodes of the show, Gandolfini was raking in $1 million per episode. His pay bump was likely due to his award-winning performances that earned him three Emmys and a Golden Globe for his work on the show.
Cardi B – $500,000
There’s no pay gap here! After establishing herself as one of the most powerful forces in all of hip-hop, Cardi B joined Chance the Rapper as a judge on Netflix’s "Rhythm + Flow." Thankfully, she was paid just as much as her male counterpart at $500,000 per episode.
Interestingly enough, T.I.’s salary for his work on the series is unknown. Whether he made more or less, Cardi B’s talent and incredible rise to fame made her the perfect judge to bring aspiring rappers into the spotlight. We have faith that Cardi B will continue to stay relevant and do amazing things both in the TV realm and in the studio.