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.
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."
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.
Elisabeth Moss – $1,000,000
Another TV show based on a novel, The Handmaid’s Tale captured the attention of audiences across the country when it premiered on Hulu. Elisabeth Moss played Offred, the protagonist of the dystopian series, and even won an Emmy for her work in 2017.
Most people credit Moss’ incredible talent for the success of the show, so it sounds like she’s worth her $1 million per episode paycheck. Producers likely knew she would deliver since she already had a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award under her belt for her work on Madmen and Top of the Lake.