The list of US television's highest paid stars have been revealed and three actors from broadcast's most watched comedy topped the list.
In a report from BBC, "The Big Bang Theory" actors Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki topped the list as the highest paid stars for scripted television, the list covering both comedy and drama. Each of them receives an estimated $1 million per episode.
Dwayner Johnson, star of HBO's "Ballers", is second in the comedy category with his salary of $400,000 per episode. That is a huge drop from the pay of the three comedy stars. Following "The Rock" are Netflix stars Drew Barrymore (Santa Clarita Diet), Emma Stone (Maniac), and Jonah Hill (Maniac), each receiving an estimated $350,000 per episode.
Voice actors of primetime television's longest running animated show "The Simpsons" are also receiving hefty amounts. Four of the casts are paid with $315,000 per episode, namely: Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith.
For drama, "Gilmore Girls" stars Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel secured the top spot after each receiving an estimated fee of $750,000 per episode after agreeing to reprise their roles for a four-episode Netflix revival of their hit drama series. "NCIS" star Mark Harmon is second with $525,000 per episode salary.
Kevin Spacey is also being paid a hefty amount playing political genius Frank Underwood in Netflix's hit "House of Cards". The actor receives an estimated $500,00 per episode. The same amount is also being paid to "Game of Thrones" stars Peter Dinklage, Lena Headey, Kit Harrington, Emilia Clarke, and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau.
But reality and syndicated television seems to be the most lucrative of them all. In the same survey conducted by Variety, Judy Sheindlin, star of the venerable "Judge Judy" had an estimated annual pay of $47 million. She is followed by "Today" lead anchor Matt Lauer which is paid with $22-25 million per year. Talk show star Ellen DeGeneres is third with a pay of $20 million annually.
Aside from Matt Lauer, another newsman who is being paid fortunes is FOX News Bill O'Reilly of "The O'Reilly Factor". He receives an annual salary of $18-20 million.