Simon Cowell is known in the entertainment world as the incredibly harsh judge of your favorite singing competitions. As a well-respected member of the music industry, Cowell’s opinion is taken seriously, even when it seems overly critical. While Cowell starred on many shows, he made the most money while working on “The X Factor.”
For his spot as a judge, he earned $75 million for the entire season. With 80 episodes, Cowell was making just under a million dollars simply to tell people how bad they were. And he’s not afraid to splash that cash he’s earned over the years either. Just check out all of his homes and cars to prove it.
Patrick Dempsey – $350,000
While working on "Grey’s Anatomy," Patrick Dempsey continued working in film and had quite a successful career. However, he chose to continue in his role as Dr. McDreamy, likely because of the $350,000 paycheck per episode. And we don't blame him for that, by any means.
When McDreamy met his untimely demise, Dempsey’s paychecks also came to an end. But after eleven seasons on the show, Dempsey made quite a pretty penny playing a doctor. Why go to medical school when you could just go into acting? Of course, Dempsey did show up later on as a vision to reunite with Meredith one more time.
William H. Macy – $350,000
Emmy Rossum wasn’t the only star bringing home the big bucks on the set of "Shameless." William H. Macy, who plays her alcoholic father Frank Gallagher, also made $350,000 per episode. Before starring in "Shameless," Macy established his undeniable talent with roles in "Magnolia," "Fargo," and "Air Force One."
He’s certainly a fan favorite in the entertainment world, but his role on "Shameless" took his talent to another level and transformed him into one of television’s most iconic characters. And in our books, Macy deserves every dime he gets, because he is simply a stellar performer in everything he's in.
Steve Carrell – $1 Million
Steve Carrell first became a household name when he starred in the hit sitcom "The Office." While his career started in comedy, he later left the series to pursue a career as a movie actor. Over the years, he has given a variety of stunning performances which prove that he’s as talented an actor in drama as he is in comedy.
Recently, Carrell returned to TV in the Netflix comedy "Space Force." The series paid him $1 million per episode to play a general starting a new branch of the U.S. military. However, Carrell isn't reaping the rewards from that show anymore as it was canceled after two seasons.
Julia Roberts – $600,000
At one point, Julia Roberts was the highest-earning woman in show business. While she doesn’t work as often now, her notoriety alone demands a high salary. Recently, she departed from her normal career as a movie actress and starred in the Amazon thriller "Homecoming."
The show was about a treatment center for veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress and it earned Roberts $600,000 per episode. There is no denying though that Roberts has made an absolute killing over the years. With classic films such as "Pretty Woman," "Erin Brockovich" and "Notting Hill" under her belt, it is clear that Roberts is doing just fine financially.