Friends Stars Earn $20M Yearly from Syndication & Streaming

0:00On April 29th, even two decades after friends wrapped up his 10th season in 2004, the six main stars are still cashing in big time on. Residuals Lisa Kudrow just confirmed they pull in around $20 million a year combined thanks to syndication and streaming deals they keep the show. Alive for fans old and new. That money comes from a sweet deal they locked in with Warner Brothers, where the cask gets 2% of every dollar the studio makes off a series. And get this, the show generates $1 billion annually for them, so yeah, those checks don't stop coming. Back when it started in 1994, the actors weren't stars yet, earning $22,500 per episode in season 1. But as ratings exploded, they banded together, negotiating equal pay that hit $1 million per episode by the final two seasons, fighting as a team for fairness. Kudrow explained, it made sense because the show was printing money, and actors never know when gigs dry up.

1:01Matt LeBlanc echoed that, saying if you're in position to grab a raise, you do it, or you're leaving cash on the table. Even supporting players like Gunther's Scorson Residuals from episodes with lines, adding nice supplements. With all seasons streaming on Max here and Netflix abroad, friends keep proving why it's the king of sitcom cash cows. Stay in the know, with entertainment and celebrity news today, AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with The Story.