Highest-Paid TV Actors

4 of Top 5 Highest-Paid TV Actors Hail From One Show

'Big Bang Theory' actors are bringing home nice bank

By Jenn Gidman

In this March 21, 2018, file photo, Jim Parsons, a cast member in the television series "The Big Bang Theory," poses during PaleyFest at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.   (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

Talk about going out with a bang. Forbes has put out its list of the highest-paid actors on TV, and four of the top five are from one hit show:


The Big Bang Theory on CBS, with lead Jim Parsons banking a comfortable $26.5 million a year—not only due to the show, but also to lucrative side projects and endorsements. Co-stars Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nayyar are only behind him by a few million. Modern Family cast members also make a strong showing among the highest earners. Notably missing from the top 10: female actors. Here, the highest paid and their pretax salaries for the 12 months leading up to June 1:

1. Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory; $26.5M
2. Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory; $25M
3. Simon Helberg, The Big Bang Theory; $23.5M
4. Kunal Nayyar, The Big Bang Theory; $23.5M
5. Mark Harmon, NCIS; $19M
6. Ed O'Neill, Modern Family; $14M
7. Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family; $13.5M
8. Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Modern Family; $13M
9. Ty Burrell, Modern Family; $12M
10. Andrew Lincoln, The Walking Dead; $11M