It"s premiere week and all of the best (and worst) television shows are returning at a rapid pace. As they do, the bank accounts for some of the hottest stars on television are growing too. By, like, a lot.
We pay a pretty penny for our entertainment. Many pennies, actually. Millions and millions of them. (Okay, so technically advertisers and networks pay those pennies, but who"s paying the networks and buying the products, you know?)
It made headlines when the principal cast of The Big Bang Theory negotiated $ 1 million per episode contracts in order to return, but remarkably enough, they don"t top the list of the 35 highest paid TV stars of 2015.
Who does? Click through and find out. It"s a shocker, for sure.
1. Tatiana Maslany
Tatiana Maslany plays something like 7? 8? characters on Orphan Black and only makes $ 50,000 per episode. She should get at least $ 50,000 per character (because she’s effing amazing!) but we’re pretty sure her half a million a season paycheck doesn’t hurt her feels.
2. Sharon Osbourne
Sharon Osbourne rakes in $ 1 million for The Talk. That’s a lot, for sure, and it doesn’t take into account any money she might bring in from appearances and judging stints on other shows.
3. Keri Russell
Star of The Americans, Keri Russell, rakes in $ 100,000 an episode for the spy drama. In a 13-episode season, that brings her a cool $ 1.3 million a year.
4. Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, and Lea Michele
Before Glee ended, Matthew Morrison, Jane Lynch, and Lea Michele were each bringing home $ 1.6 million a season. That’s $ 80,000 an episode for those of you who hate math.
5. Peter Dinklage
Tyrion Lannister, aka Peter Dinklage, has the highest salary of any Game of Thrones cast member. He’s raking in $ 150,000 an episode for a total of $ 1.9 million a season. If he’s the next Jon Snow, (read: killed off) maybe this is why.
6. Kerry Washington
Scandal’s Kerry Washington is the ONLY cast member to make this list. In 2015, she was paid $ 80,000 an episode (a straight $ 2 million) to bring Olivia Pope to life.