‘Friends’ Fact: Did You Know Who Emerged as the Highest Paid Actor Among the Six?

Published 12/15/2023, 3:15 AM EST

via Imago

Only a very select few sitcoms from the 90s have as much contemporary fan following as the NBC sitcom, Friends. The show, with its star-studded appearances, also featured many high-profile celebrities throughout its decade-long run on television. While it also retained the 4th most-watched viewership title after Netflix’s acquisition, one thing that often became the talk of the hour was its compelling paychecks.

Having starred in the most influential series of all time, the six core-cast members also shed much light on their overall earnings from Friends. However, the one who took the spot of affirming their name as the highest-paid actor could send shockwaves to many.

Who was the highest-paid actor on Friends?

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Friends’ high road to success becoming the staple comfort show of the millennials also reflects the cast members’ financial status. While discussing the historic paychecks, Matthew Perry once even expressed his mixed feelings about the huge numbers. Even though the guesswork for the highest-paid actor could point fingers at many, the one to actually bag the credit was Jennifer Aniston.

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Currently hailing an estimated net worth of $320 million, Aniston became the richest one from the on-screen family. According to reports, Aniston initiated with $22,500 per episode from the show’s inception. However, season by season, her earnings were in renegotiation and had stacked up to a whopping $1 million for each episode by the last leg of the show.

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While Aniston’s reach for the top spot has been a shocker for many, here is a look at the one whose succession to her also deserves momentum.

Who was the second highest-paid actor on Friends?

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By the final phase of Friends’ run, not only Aniston but the other core members also were earning a millionaire paycheck per episode. However, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow became the highest-paid women on television during the ninth and tenth installments. Hence, taking the second spot on the money tree is Courteney Cox.

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Much like Aniston, Courteney Cox also began with $22,500 per episode, eventually ending at the $1 million quota. As the second wealthiest showrunner from Friends, her current worth stands at a mammoth estimation of $160 million. Hence, though the numbers appear substantial and captivating, it unequivocally underscores that the investment is justified. Especially considering that the show’s ongoing legacy of being the staple laughter pill has never retained any scratch.

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Did you know that Jennifer Aniston is the richest in the Friends family? Let us know in the comments below!

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Anushka Bhattacharya

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I'm Anushka Bhattacharya, an entertainment journalist at Netflix Junkie. Armed with a degree in literature, I once wielded my words to catalyze change within society through my work with NGOs. However, as I stumbled into the exuberant hole of crime thrillers and documentaries on Netflix, it was love at first sight and pushed me into entertainment journalism.

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