Lisa Kudrow has seemingly confirmed the jaw-dropping amount the cast of Friends continues to earn in residuals, more than two decades after the show ended.
In a recent interview with The Times, Kudrow was asked why she and her co-stars—Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer—still receive $20 million a year in residuals. Her joking response? "Because Phoebe Buffay was so great?" But she also expressed genuine appreciation, noting that rewatching the series after Perry's death made her realize "just how great it was."
The cast wasn't always paid such staggering sums. When Friends premiered in 1994, each actor earned $22,500 per episode. But in 1996, they united to negotiate as a group, eventually securing a record-breaking $1 million per episode by 2002—that's $22 million for a full 22-episode season.
As LeBlanc once put it, "You know there's that saying that you make your f--k-you money in Hollywood? I made that." And he's still making it, thanks to the show's enduring popularity on streaming platforms like HBO Max.
Kudrow addressed the logic behind the residuals in a 2014 interview, explaining that the show continues to generate massive revenue and that the payments are "affordable" to whichever entity is paying them. She also emphasized that for a character-driven series, it's fair to ask for a share in the endeavor.
Kudrow's revelation is just one example of standout celebrity paychecks. The article also highlights:
- Jennifer Lawrence was paid $25 million for Don't Look Up, while Leonardo DiCaprio received $30 million. Lawrence acknowledged his box-office draw but noted the discomfort of questioning unequal pay.
- Jonah Hill earned just $60,000 for The Wolf of Wall Street, a fraction of DiCaprio's $10 million, but called it a privilege to work with Martin Scorsese.
- Jenna Johnson from Dancing With the Stars revealed that pro dancer contracts start at $1,200–$1,600 per episode, with celebrities earning a base of $125,000 plus bonuses for advancing far in the competition.
While million-dollar residuals and salaries make headlines, they're far from the norm in Hollywood—even for movie stars.