Could we BE any more amazed by the never-ending popularity of Friends? Nearly two decades after the last episode aired, the iconic sitcom is still going strong, with reruns and streaming deals raking in huge amounts of cash for Warner Bros.
In fact, the total revenue generated by Friends since its debut is estimated to be a jaw-dropping $6.2 billion – that’s more than double the box office earnings of the highest-grossing film in history, Avatar.
But it’s not just the studio that’s profiting from the show’s success. The cast of Friends, including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer, are still earning millions from their roles on the series.
While the stars started out earning a respectable $22,500 per episode in the early seasons, they quickly negotiated a massive pay increase, with each of them pocketing a cool $1 million per episode in the later seasons.
It’s estimated that the cast’s total earnings from the show come to a staggering $816 million before taxes – that’s over $136 million for each actor!
And even now, with the series long over, the combined income from Friends is still bringing in around $20 million a year, with each star receiving more than $3 million annually.
So the next time you settle in for a Friends marathon, spare a thought for the actors who brought these beloved characters to life – and who are still laughing all the way to the bank!
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