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.
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.
Roseanne Barr – $500,000
Before she earned public scorn in 2017, Roseanne Barr was the star of a show that was also named after her. Not only that, but Barr was also an executive producer on the sitcom. During that time, she earned $500,000 per episode, contributing to her net worth of $80 million.
Roseanne was so popular in its heyday that Barr tried to put together a revival in 2017. Unfortunately, Barr’s personal life got in the way. She tweeted something offensive and tried to backpedal her words after receiving backlash, but the show was still canceled before its second season.
Kelsey Grammer – $1.6 million
Kelsey Grammer first made his mark on television when he played Dr. Frasier Crane in the sitcom "Cheers." His character was so beloved by the TV community that the producers decided to create a show entirely based around him. The spin-off was called Frasier, and it ran for a whopping 11 seasons.
Grammar made $1.6 million per episode while on Frasier. Today, he has a reported net worth of around $60 million, which probably could have been higher had he spent his money more shrewdly. Also, did you know that he is reprising his role as Frasier Crane in a revival series? Yes, that is happening. And yes, you should be excited!