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.
Drew Carey – $775,000
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.
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 Although he’s most recognized from "Two and a Half Men," he originally made a name for himself when he starred in 80s classics, including "Pretty In Pink."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.
Ansel Elgort – $500,000
Ansel Elgort has pretty much stayed out of the entertainment space after starring in what felt like everything a few years ago. However, he is planning to make a return to our small screens with "Tokyo Vice," a TV show yet to be released. In the new series, Elgort plays a journalist uncovering corruption in Tokyo roughly 30 years ago.
Based on a true story, the memoir has been accused of stepping on people’s toes. Japan itself doesn’t want to publish the series. Despite the controversy, Elgort makes $500,000 per episode. On a side note, if you haven't seen it yet, make sure to check out Engort's epic movie "Baby Driver." It's so good.
Miley Cyrus – $550,000
While most of the women on "The Voice" were paid less than their male counterparts, producers knew they couldn’t get away with shorting Miley Cyrus. Although she started her career on Disney Channel as Hannah Montana, she later departed violently from the innocent image and started focusing on her vocal talent.
She joined the cast of "The Voice" and was paid $13 million for the 2016-2017 season. That ended up being about $550,000 per episode, a sum that accounted for her impressive musical talent. Outside of TV, Cyrus is also making an absolute killing with a plethora of hit singles and albums.