Profit From Reruns: $10 Million a Year
Twelves years of playing Leonard, the most down-to-earth nerd from “The Big Bang Theory” will no doubt end up being profitable for Johnny Galecki. The network made billions, while Galecki and his co-stars have all made mere millions.
Just like Jim Parsons, Galecki makes up to ten million dollars a year, since reruns always seem to be playing. If you’re a fan of “The Big Bang Theory” and you’re disappointed it ended too soon, take heart – “Young Sheldon” has plenty of years ahead of it.
Kelsey Grammer: Frasier
Profit From Reruns: $13 Million a Year
The hysterically-serious Frasier Crane was moved from his original setting in Boston (and the show "Cheers") to Seattle to spend time with his family. It was a risky move, but it made the show even more popular than "Cheers."
Grammer played the role for more than twenty years, and after eleven seasons the show finally went off-air in 2004. By the end of the show, Grammer was making $1.6 million *per episode*. And almost twenty years off the air, the show is still busting guts and bringing in the cash for Grammer to the tune of about thirteen million dollars a year.
Fred Savage: The Wonder Years
Profit From Reruns: Nothing
The most famous thing from "The Wonder Years" might be the theme song, “With a Little Help from My Friends” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. The show starred Fred Savage as Kevin, a sweet teen living in the sixties. The show ran for six seasons, but it didn't end well.
The producers wanted more adult storylines as Kevin grew up, but execs wanted things to stay teen-focused. This led to the show being canceled. Worse for Fred Savage, the drama finished its run on ABC, which owns all the rights for the show. This means Savage and the other actors have received nothing from residuals.
Ricky Gervais: The Office UK
Profit From Reruns: $1 Million a Year
You're undoubtedly familiar with the US version of this show, but this one came first. It only ran for two seasons (fourteen episodes) but gave us the now-famous mockumentary style used in other shows like "Parks & Rec."
Ricky Gervais plays David Brent, the boss of the office, and earns a million dollars per year even after such a small run. The US version of the show ran for much longer, a total of nine seasons, and Ricky Gervais made a number of guest appearances on it, much to the delight of fans of the original.
Hank Azaria: The Simpsons
Profit From Reruns: $10 Million a Year
Hank Azaria has been with "The Simpsons" since the very beginning, all the way back in 1989. Now he is one of the longest-running voice actors on the show. Now he isn't be voicing fan-favorite Apu in an attempt to give the role to someone of Apu's ethnicity. However, he still has a number of smaller roles such as Chief Wiggum and Moe Szyslak, as well as plenty of bit characters.
"The Simpsons" brings in boatloads every year thanks to reruns and new episodes. He'll still earn money for episodes that he voiced Apu to the tune of ten million dollars a year. Not bad at all.