$20m Annual ‘Friends’ Payout for Cast

Unbelievable Earnings from a Beloved Sitcom

It’s been 22 years since the final episode of Friends aired, but the show’s popularity endures. Lisa Kudrow, one of the six main cast members, has recently disclosed that each of the cast members earns a staggering amount of money from residuals every year – a whopping $20 million, to be exact. This revelation was made in an interview with The Times

The first episode of Friends premiered in September 1994 and ran for 10 successful seasons until its conclusion in 2004. The show launched the careers of its six lead actors, including Lisa Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer, catapulting them to international stardom.

Friends has been syndicated globally, generating millions of dollars in revenue for its producers and cast. As reported, the show’s influence extends beyond the screen, with its impact felt across generations. The Daily Mail also covered Kudrow’s revelation, highlighting the show’s enduring success.

A Legacy Cut Short

In a tragic turn of events, Matthew Perry, one of the show’s beloved cast members, passed away in May 2024 at the age of 54. His death was met with an outpouring of grief from fans and colleagues alike. According to the autopsy report, the cause of his death was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine, a controlled substance he was taking as part of supervised therapy, as reported by The South African. Authorities later arrested five individuals in connection with his death, which occurred at his Los Angeles home.

Despite the passing of time, the Friends cast has continued to pursue various projects. Lisa Kudrow, now 62, is currently starring in the HBO mockumentary series, The Comeback. The show’s legacy lives on, with its impact still felt in the entertainment industry today.