While TV actors used to be in an entirely different class than film actors, those lines are blurring. As streaming services become more popular, most are looking for big-name actors to draw an audience to their original content. Although it hasn’t been released yet, Meryl Streep is set to star in a new series called The Nix.
The show is based on a novel adapted for TV by J.J. Abrams. As one of the most well-respected actresses in the world, it comes as no surprise that Streep made $825,000 per episode for her work on the show.
The Cast of Game Of Thrones – $2 million
"Game of Thrones" was a cultural phenomenon that ended in disaster. But even though the last season was a major disappointment for fans, the cast probably didn’t think so. Some of the most notable stars of the series, including Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Lena Heady, and Kit Harington, earned $2 million per episode.
Honestly, the large paycheck was probably in part a congratulation for not dying during the show. In a series known for killing off characters at random, the fact that these stars survived until the end was a feat in itself. And they got paid richly for their survival.
Jason Momoa – $600,000
While the characters who made it all the way through "Game of Thrones" earned millions of dollars per episode, Jason Momoa wasn’t one of the lucky stars to escape death. When the series was still new, Momoa starred as Khal Drogo, a character that vaulted him to fame.
Unfortunately, Drogo died in the first season. Momoa didn’t stop, however, and now stars in a new Apple TV+ show called "See." For his work on this new series, Momoa made $600,000 per episode. It’s not $2 million, but it’s certainly something. And of course, Momoa did pretty well in the "Aquaman" film series.
Jerry Seinfeld – $1 million
Jerry Seinfeld was a big deal in comedy, in part due to the show named after him. "Seinfeld" was big while it was on the air, but it also ran dozens of successful re-runs that raked in the viewers, making it one of the most viewed TV shows of all time.
By the final season, it was estimated that one in ten Americans watched Seinfeld. To reflect that success, Jerry Seinfeld earned $1 million per episode. When the series finished, NBC was so desperate to keep Seinfeld on board that they offered him $5 million per episode, which he declined.
Ryan Seacrest – $652,000
While many celebrities will pursue multiple options on the small screen, Ryan Seacrest is pretty comfortable being just a host. He’s incredibly good at his job, which has made him a hot commodity in the TV space. From 2013-2016, Seacrest made $15 million per season hosting "American Idol."
In the 2014 season, there were 23 episodes of the musical competition show. That means Seacrest made $652,000 per episode. Why would he want to be anything but a host if he can make money like that? For someone on this list who wasn't even an actor, Seacrest has brought home the bacon over the years!