"Shocking Secrets: How Much the Friends Cast Is Still Raking In Two Decades Later!"
Added on April 28, 2026 inFree CelebrityNews
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It’s been 20 years since the curtain fell on the legendary sitcom “Friends,” yet it continues to charm audiences worldwide—like a warm blanket on a chilly evening. As the planets align, some of us still debate whether Ross and Rachel were truly on a break, or why two young women could afford that sprawling New York apartment on a waitress’s salary and a part-time gig at Central Perk. Meanwhile, ever-curious fans wonder about the hefty paychecks that turned six unknowns into household names during a show that ran for a whole decade, wrapping up in 2004. Who could’ve predicted that a simple gathering of friends would skyrocket their earnings from $22,500 per episode to a jaw-dropping $1 million? With the show’s legacy continuing to reel in about $20 million per year in residuals for the surviving cast—each earnestly recalling their unforgettable moments on set—it’s safe to say that “Friends” will remain in our hearts and schedules for years to come. Do you ever find yourself questioning the cosmic forces that made such witty chemistry possible? Or maybe you’re just here to chuckle at memories of Monica’s competitive spirit! Either way, let’s dive into the nostalgia! LEARN MORE
Friends is still one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, even 20 years on from the emotional final episode.
While some of us are still trying to work out if Ross and Rachel were really on a break, or how on Earth Monica and Rachel could afford such a huge apartment in New York City on their salaries, some folks watching at home might be wondering how much the actors got paid.
All six of the main cast were relative unknowns when they started out but each of them became huge names in the industry thanks to their time on the hit show, which spanned for 10 seasons before ending in back in 2004.
Unsurprisingly, their wages shot up in that time, as it’s previously been revealed that they went from earning $22,500 per episode during Season 1 to $1 million per episode during Seasons 9 and 10.
And more than two decades on from the finale where Rachel thankfully got off the plane, the five main cast members who are still alive, following Matthew Perry’s tragic death, are continuing to cash in on around $20 million a year in residuals.
Kudrow will return in the new series of The Comeback (Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Speaking to The Times, Kudrow explained why the show is still so loved, but also why the cast members would regularly clash with writers on set.
She said: “After Matthew died, I watched the show again,” the 62-year-old shared. “Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better. But for the first time, I truly appreciated just how great it was.”
She continued, “Because there was a genius at work. And whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again.”
Although the six co-stars were all friends in real life, there was still an intense pressure to perform while recording, especially in front of a live audience where one mistake could be picked up.
“Don’t forget we were recording in front of a live audience of 400, and if you messed up one of these writers’ lines or it didn’t get the perfect response, they could be like, ‘Can’t the b***h f*****g read? She’s not even trying. She f****d up my line,’” Kudrow explained.
The show is almost universally loved to this day (NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
“And we know that back in the room, the guys would be up late discussing their sexual fantasies about Jennifer and Courteney,” she added. “It was intense.”
Although she had some strong words about the writers, the 62-year-old later admitted that she would never say anything bad about the show, because the sitcom is ‘still incredible work’ all these years later.
Considering she’s able to earn so much from the show and the sheer amount of people who still tune in to watch their comfort series, it’s perhaps no surprise she’s such a fan.
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