There is nothing quite like getting home and watching TV after a long day of work. However, have you ever stopped to think about how much effort the cast has put into your beloved shows? It must be tiring to shoot episode after episode, but they are compensated with a pretty penny for all the work that they do. We are here to show you just how much our favorite actors and actresses earn for each episode of a TV show. Police procedurals, medical dramas, reality TV, soap operas, sitcoms… It does not matter because we have considered all of these genres and more! Get ready because some of these amounts are truly going to blow you away. Just a heads up, you are probably going to feel envious once you hear that they make more than our annual salary!
James Gandolfini – $1 Million
There are lots of people who believe that The Sopranos had been the best thing on the small screen. The HBO drama about the gangster family from New Jersey was a huge critical and commercial success that has influenced pop culture as we know it. The actor James Gandolfini had been applauded for his excellent performance in the memorable role of Tony Soprano. He made $1 million per episode of the show and brought home many awards for the role. In fact, he won a Golden Globe and three Emmys! Sadly, he passed away at the young age of 51.
James Gandolfini – $1 Million
Mariska Hargitay – $500,000
It might sound absurd for an actor or actress to build their whole career around a single TV role. Despite this, it was what happened to Mariska Hargitay. The actress has been playing the lead role of Olivia Benson in Law & Order: SVU for 21 years and counting already! She just so happens to be the longest-serving cast member on the set with more than 410 episodes to her name. It is also pretty impressive to hear that she brings home $12 million per season.
Mariska Hargitay – $500,000
