Hollywood’s biggest television names continue to command extraordinary paydays, with a new salary roundup attributed to Variety placing Jennifer Aniston, Chris Pratt, Reese Witherspoon and Sylvester Stallone at the top of the list with reported earnings of $2 million per episode.
The figures underline the premium streaming platforms and television producers are prepared to pay established stars who can attract audiences to major productions. The reported amounts range from $1 million to $2 million per episode, with actors from dramas, comedies and limited series represented.
The $2 Million Club
Four performers reportedly share the highest quoted rate in the roundup. Aniston and Witherspoon are listed at $2 million per episode for Apple TV+ drama The Morning Show, where both also have prominent producing roles. Chris Pratt is listed at the same figure for The Terminal List, while Sylvester Stallone reportedly earns $2 million per episode for Paramount+ crime drama Tulsa King.
The top tier illustrates how established screen identities can translate into substantial television deals. Aniston and Witherspoon bring both star power and production experience to The Morning Show, while Pratt and Stallone headline action-driven franchises with strong audience recognition.
Branagh, Ford And Segel In The $1.3 Million–$1.4 Million Range
The next tier features Kenneth Branagh at a reported $1.4 million per episode for Laird. Harrison Ford and Jason Segel are each listed at $1.3 million for Apple TV+ comedy-drama Shrinking.
Ford’s presence is particularly notable because the veteran film star has become a central figure in a successful television ensemble. Segel, meanwhile, combines his leading performance with a creative role on the series, further demonstrating the value of talent who contribute beyond acting alone.
Dutton Ranch And Shining Girls Stars
Dutton Ranch co-stars Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly are each placed at $1.2 million per episode. Elisabeth Moss is listed at $1.1 million for Shining Girls, putting her just above the group of performers reported at the $1 million mark.
The figures show that high-value television contracts are not limited to a single genre. Western drama, psychological thriller, comedy and prestige drama performers all feature in the reported rankings.
The $1 Million Per-Episode Group
The largest group in the roundup is made up of performers reportedly earning $1 million per episode. They include Zendaya for Euphoria; Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short for Only Murders in the Building; Jake Gyllenhaal for Presumed Innocent; Nicolas Cage for Spider-Noir; Robert De Niro for Zero Day; Andrew Garfield and Jude Law for Wild Things; Alan Ritchson for Reacher; and Jennifer Garner for The Five-Star Weekend.
The range of projects is striking. It includes returning series with established fan bases, new adaptations and limited-series productions built around major film stars. For streaming services, securing a recognisable lead can be a major part of a programme’s launch and marketing strategy.
What The Salary List Says About Television
The reported salaries arrive amid a more selective television market, in which studios and streaming platforms have become more cautious about commissioning new shows. Yet the highest-profile performers can still negotiate substantial deals, particularly when they bring an existing audience, awards recognition or producing experience.
There is an important distinction between reported per-episode compensation and a confirmed acting-only salary. Some entertainment-industry deals combine acting fees with executive-producer payments, bonuses or other contractual arrangements. The figures should therefore be understood as reported estimates rather than audited payroll records or guaranteed take-home amounts.
The list also does not mean every actor in a series receives comparable compensation. Lead performers and established stars often negotiate individually, while supporting cast members may work under very different contracts.
For now, the reported figures place Aniston, Pratt, Witherspoon and Stallone at the top of this particular ranking, while a wide group of celebrated actors continue to command seven-figure episode rates. The numbers offer a snapshot of the premium Hollywood still places on star power in the streaming era.
Reported TV Salaries: Full List
- $2 million: Jennifer Aniston (The Morning Show); Chris Pratt (The Terminal List); Reese Witherspoon (The Morning Show); Sylvester Stallone (Tulsa King).
- $1.4 million: Kenneth Branagh (Laird).
- $1.3 million: Harrison Ford (Shrinking); Jason Segel (Shrinking).
- $1.2 million: Cole Hauser (Dutton Ranch); Kelly Reilly (Dutton Ranch).
- $1.1 million: Elisabeth Moss (Shining Girls).
- $1 million: Zendaya (Euphoria); Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building); Jake Gyllenhaal (Presumed Innocent); Nicolas Cage (Spider-Noir); Robert De Niro (Zero Day); Andrew Garfield (Wild Things); Jude Law (Wild Things); Alan Ritchson (Reacher); Steve Martin (Only Murders in the Building); Martin Short (Only Murders in the Building); Jennifer Garner (The Five-Star Weekend).
Sources And Further Reading
- Variety: TV’s Biggest Salaries — Zendaya, Nicolas Cage, Selena Gomez And More
- Infobae: Report on the highest-paid television actors and the streaming salary market
- Just Jared: Highest-Paid TV Stars Revealed
Editorial note: Compensation figures are reported estimates attributed to Variety and may include acting and producing components. They are not independently verified salary disclosures. Photographs are credited in their captions; the images used in this article are sourced from Wikimedia Commons under the licences identified.