Today, most people recognize Drew Carey from his hosting gigs on “The Price Is Right” and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Before he was the face of popular game shows, however, Carey had his own series—”The Drew Carey Show.” Similar to “Seinfeld,” “The Drew Carey Show” followed a fictional version of Carey through his life.
Simple as the concept was, the show ran for nine successful seasons. For Carey, the price of starring on that show was definitely right considering he made $775,000 per episode. With that iconic laugh of his, we’re kind of surprised that the show didn’t run for more seasons.
Helen Hunt – $1 million
Mad About You was yet another popular sitcom in the 90s. While it doesn’t have the same reputation today as shows like Seinfeld or Friends, it was quite popular while it was on the air. The show had two leads, one of which was Jamie Buchman, played by Helen Hunt.
Jamie lived in New York City and worked in PR alongside her husband, played by Paul Reiser. For her work on the series, Hunt earned $1 million per episode. She also went on to star in many popular movies, including "Twister," "As Good As It Gets," and "Cast Away," to name a few.
Blake Shelton – $500,000
Blake Shelton also made quite a living for himself as a judge on "The Voice." In addition to the income from his music career, Shelton makes half a million dollars per episode, a salary on par with his fellow judge Adam Levine.
Out of 17 seasons of "The Voice," Shelton has won six. He judges and competes alongside his girlfriend Gwen Stefani, who also makes a killing on the series. It's kind of wild to think that Shelton was also married to Miranda Lambert at one point. This guy sure knows how to get into unexpected power couples. Let's just hope that this one with Gwen stands the test of time.
Jon Cryer – $620,000
Although Jon Cryer made much less than both Charlie Sheen and Ashton Kutcher on "Two and a Half Men," he still managed to rake in a large paycheck of $620,000 per episode.
Cryer played the uptight brother to Sheen’s rebellious sibling. Although he’s most recognized from "Two and a Half Men," he originally made a name for himself when he starred in 80s classics, including "Pretty In Pink." So yeah, it's not as if Cryer just came out of nowhere and landed the role of a lifetime on "Two and a Half Men." This role had been a long time coming and the big bucks were well deserved, if we're going to be completely honest.
Nicole Kidman – $1 Million
The hit HBO series "Big Little Lies" follows five women involved in a murder investigation in Monterey, California. Based on a novel originally, the series was a massive success, earning a second season that added to the original story in the book.
As one of the main characters, Nicole Kidman earned $1 million per episode. She also earned critical acclaim for the show, as her performance was considered to be the most touching of all the women. With all of those Hollywood blockbusters under her belt, it is no surprise that Kidman is one of the highest-earning actresses of the last 50 years.