Key Takeaways:
– Jerry Seinfeld, the first TV star to command $1 million per episode, is reportedly part of the billionaire club.
– Co-stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander, and Michael Richards also negotiated substantial salary increases during the sitcom's run.
– The show's syndication deals significantly contributed to Jerry Seinfeld's net worth, but not the supporting cast's.
– Each of the main four cast members has impressive net worths thanks to their work on Seinfeld and other ventures.
Seinfeld: A Legacy of Success
The popularity of classic American sitcom Seinfeld, which aired from 1989 to 1998, hasn't waned with time. Thanks to the popularity of the show, writer Larry David and actor Jerry Seinfeld made the sitcom one of the top-rated TV series. Even after the finale, the cast members still earn a significant income from the show.
Record-Breaking Salaries
Towards the end of Seinfeld's run, NBC negotiated a $1 million per episode deal with Jerry Seinfeld, marking him as the first-ever TV actor to command such a salary.
Co-stars Jason Alexander, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Michael Richards also managed to secure substantial raises, skyrocketing their earnings from a decent $150,000 to an impressive $600,000 per episode.
Despite these generous earnings, Seinfeld made additional profits due to syndication. Up to $4 billion was generated in syndication, with Seinfeld earning about $465 million thanks to his backend deals.
Let's Talk Royalties
It's important to note that unlike Seinfeld, the rest of the cast did not benefit as much from syndication deals. However, they still receive royalties when the show is aired on cable or streaming platforms. The additional earnings, though significant, are reportedly only in the tens of thousands per year.
Net Worths That Will Make You Envious
Jerry Seinfeld tops the list with a net worth that has reportedly reached $1 billion, largely due to his earnings from Seinfeld and other TV projects. Bloomberg also cites the recent sale of his show's streaming rights to Netflix as a factor in this valuation.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus has a net worth of $250 million. In addition to her earnings from Seinfeld and other acting gigs, she also has family wealth. After her father, billionaire Gerard Louis-Dreyfus, passed away in 2016, she inherited a significant amount of his fortune.
Jason Alexander and Michael Richards fall behind but still boast impressive net worths of $50 million and $30 million respectively. Both actors continue to work in the entertainment industry, contributing to their wealth.
As these figures show, the cast of Seinfeld has used their talent and leverage to build significant wealth long after the show's finale. Despite differences in their earnings, all four main cast members remain massively successful, demonstrating the lasting nature of Seinfeld's pop culture impact.
For fans and anyone who wishes to engage in a nostalgic binge-watch, Seinfeld is now streaming on Netflix.
