Mariah Carey is known for being a diva. In fact, she might be the most famous diva in the world. If you want Mariah Carey involved in your show, you should expect to pay quite a lot of money. When Carey agreed to be a judge for “American Idol,” she was paid $18 million dollars for the whole season.
That amounted to roughly $486,000 per episode. It was still significantly less than Katy Pery’s salary, but it was a hefty paycheck nonetheless. Carey certainly has a healthy bank account – especially since she has been in and out of the world of pop for the last 30+ years.
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!
Christina Aguilera – ~$530,000-$600,000
While Kelly Clarkson was paid less than her male peers on "The Voice," Christina Aguilera was actually paid more. Known for her powerful vocal talent, it was a no-brainer to bring her on as one of the series’ coaches. In 2013, Aguilera earned $17 million for the entire season of "The Voice."
However, producers later decided that they were paying her too much. After a few seasons, Aguilera’s pay was reduced by $5 million, bringing her more in line with the other female coaches. It feels like forever since Christina was singing hits such as "Beautiful" and "Genie in a Bottle."
Ashton Kutcher – $755,000
Charlie Sheen may have been fired from "Two and a Half Men," but the producers weren’t willing to call it quits on the series just because they lost one of their main stars. Sheen was replaced by Ashton Kutcher, who made a whopping $755,000 per episode.
Although Kutcher joined the series late, he still managed to make more than his co-star Jon Cryer, a member of the original cast. However, Kutcher did make less than Sheen, who reportedly raked in over a million dollars per episode for his work. Of course, Kutcher was already familiar with the TV world having been one of the leads on "That 70s Show."
Bryan Cranston – $700,000
Bryan Cranston has been a fixture in the entertainment world for quite a long time. In the 90s and 2000s, he starred in classics like "Seinfeld" and "Malcolm in the Middle." But his role in "Breaking Bad" really skyrocketed his popularity. Still, "Breaking Bad" wasn’t Cranston’s most notable role from a payment perspective.
He currently makes $700,000 per episode on the Showtime series "Your Honor." That’s more than he was paid while filming "Breaking Bad," though his ultra-successful role in the series probably contributed to his higher pay. Cranston also reprised the role of Walter White on "Better Call Saul."