Jim Parsons, Despite His $1 Million Per Episode Salary for Big Bang Theory Is Not the Highest Paid Sit-Com Actor

Playing a uniquely eccentric genius in The Big Bang Theory for 12 long years is no easy feat. Naturally, Jim Parsons who played Sheldon on the show disagreed to return for another season as he wanted to explore more diverse opportunities. He had already embarked on narrating the spin-off show Young Sheldon which needed him to tap into the same eccentricities yet again.

Despite fan backlash for not returning for another season, Parsons knew what he was missing out on. Almost the entire cast was on board for more seasons, but Parsons felt it was time to wrap up the story. More than the popularity and fandom, Parsons had made a fortune working on The Big Bang Theory, earning a whopping sum of $1 million per episode.

How Much Did The Big Bang Theory Cast Earn?

The Big Bang Theory has been one of the most beloved sitcoms on television so far. With its unique array of characters who are lovable and smart yet have no street cred, the show soared to newer heights with every season. The ensemble cast enjoyed unparalleled popularity as seen in their Comic Con appearances and other promotional events.

On top of that, they also cashed huge checks for their work on the show which increased manifold from the first season to the finale episode that left everyone sobbing. Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, and Johnny Galecki formed the inner circle of central cast members as they made about $1 million for the final seasons, a salary that initially used to be $60,000.

Kunal Nayyar and Simon Helberg also made a million each for the final season despite starting off with a $45,000 salary. Apart from these main characters, a diverse range of actors were seen on the show who only appeared for a few episodes as recurring characters. The high salaries of the star cast of The Big Bang Theory represents the immense demand for the show which led to its long and successful run.

How did Jim Parsons Enact Sheldon’s Role?

Considering the genius of Sheldon Cooper, fans always wondered how Parsons made the character a likable one. He had the oddities that made him infuriatingly annoying to his friends and especially his roommate, Leonard. However, he managed to create a niche fan base for himself and proved the naysayers wrong.

In an interview with Time, he shared,

[The writers] are careful to soften the edges of the harsher words. The other thing is the way the characters are reacting to him — with exasperation and a resignation that they’re going to put up with it. That translates to the audience as, Oh, well, they’re saying it’s O.K. I don’t try to soften it. Frankly, a lot of times the point is to irritate.

Parsons knew his character was written that way so it was easier to see the motives of the character and what was intended in his behavior. His character development was easy to track from the first episode to the very last one. Sheldon is one of the television characters whose arc is widely appreciated as he learns how to be grateful and appreciative of his friends.

Who is the Highest Paid Sitcom Actor?

A slew of great sitcoms have managed to charm the masses with great comedy and an enticing storyline. Right from Seinfeld and Frasier to Friends and The Big Bang Theory, sitcoms are placed on a spectrum where they find versatile positions for each. While Kelsey Grammer earned $1.6 million per episode for Frasier which has been rebooted recently, Ray Romano made $1.725 million per episode for Everybody Loves Raymond.

At the end of the day, the Two and a Half Men actor Charlie Sheen is the highest-paid sitcom actor to date, earning a whopping sum of $1.8-2 million for each episode. Even though numerous controversies subsequently surrounded the actor’s involvement in the series, he got paid such a large amount for headlining the series that continues to have a large fanbase.