“The Big Bang Theory” was another sitcom that only got more and more popular during its time on the air. The show was created by Chuck Lorre, the same mind behind Two and a Half Men. The series centers on a group of nerds dating and navigating life together.
Each of the five main characters of The Big Bang Theory—Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, and Kaley Cuoco—all earned $900,000 per episode. After twelve seasons, it’s safe to say that all these actors were pretty comfortable financially. Oh, what we would give for just one more season.
Norman Reedus – $550,000
While Andrew Lincoln was the highest earner on "The Walking Dead," Norman Reedus wasn’t far behind him. As Daryl Dixon, Reedus made $550,000 per episode. He quickly became one of the most beloved characters of the series. And with his nomadic, mysterious aura, it is not hard to see why fans loved him so much over the years.
"The Walking Dead" is easily Reedus’ biggest claim to fame. Beyond starring as Daryl, however, Reedus also had his own reality show, "Ride with Norman Reedus." And he is still benefitting from "The Walking Dead," appearing in some of the subsequent spinoffs.
Kim Kardashian – $1 million
"Keeping Up With the Kardashians" isn’t just a way for the family to stay in the spotlight. The show is actually very lucrative for everyone involved, especially as it continues to rise in popularity. While making every detail of her life public might be uncomfortable, the $1 million paycheck per episode likely dulls some of Kim Kardashian’s pain.
At one point, the star even earned a $5 million bonus after convincing her now ex-husband, Kanye West, to join in on the fun. It is safe to say that Kim and the rest of the Kardashians have so much money from that show that they really don't know what to do with it anymore.
Ray Romano – $1.7 million
Ray Romano starred in the massively popular "Everybody Loves Raymond." During nine seasons, the show won 15 Primetime Emmy Awards. The finale alone premiered to an audience of 32.94 million viewers. Considering those large numbers, Romano’s salary also had to be hefty to mimic the success of the show.
He actually earned the place of the second-highest TV earner of all time, raking in $1.7 million per episode. His net worth now stands at $130 million, in large part a reflection of his massive earnings on the sitcom. Since then, Romano has starred in a few movies such as "The Big Sick" and "The Irishman."
Mindy Kaling – $140,000
After starring in multiple Judd Apatow movies that got her name out into the public, Mindy Kaling took her talent to the next level when she joined the cast of the classic sitcom "The Office." After starring in the hit show for many years, networks decided to give Kaling her own show.
On "The Mindy Project," Kaling brought home $140,000 per episode. The show was a success, but it ended in 2017 after six seasons. Of course, Kaling has been in and around some of the biggest comedy movies of all time. Do you remember when she played Paul Rudd's ex in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin?" No? Probably not the best example.