It’s been over 15 years since America said goodbye to Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Chandler, Monica, and Joey. But even after all this time, the cast of “Friends” is raking in the dough. While each actor has taken on post-Friends roles, they would still be set for life if they didn’t, thanks to the hefty royalties they receive from the iconic sitcom.
And now that a “Friends” reunion special has been confirmed to air on HBO Max, the Central Perk gang is gearing up for another huge paycheck. Several sources have confirmed that each cast member will earn over $2 million for the unscripted reunion.
But how much are they worth before this new gig?
Rachel Green may have been “just a waitress,” but in real life, Jennifer Aniston is the richest cast member from “Friends” and one of the highest-paid actresses in the world.
She earns upwards of $10 million a year in “Friends” royalties alone. Her most recent gig on Apple TV’s “The Morning Show” earned her $1.25 million per episode.
Between her acting work and endorsements with brands like Aveeno, Smartwater and Eyelove, Jen’s overall net worth is estimated at $300 million. And can we just say that at 51, she looks like $300 million bucks?
The other half of the “we were on a break” couple, David Schwimmer doesn’t earn nearly as much as his female counterpart. Other than royalties from “Friends,” Schwimmer has not earned much from acting roles.
He’s taken jobs for different movies and television shows, one in which he played Robert Kardashian in the FX miniseries, “The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story.” But even with these roles, his net worth pales in comparison to Aniston’s. It is estimated to be just $85 million. Guess a career as a paleontologist isn’t very lucrative, is it Ross?
She was unforgettable as the “Smelly Cat” songstress on “Friends.” Playing Phoebe Buffay was hands down Lisa Kudrow’s best role ever. And while she’s kept busy with jobs in both film and television since taking on the role of Phoebe, she’s still not earning what she was on the show.
Along with fellow female co-stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, Kudrow set a world record as the highest-paid television actress ever, earning $1 million per episode for the last two seasons of “Friends.” Today her net worth is around $90 million.
America’s favorite womanizer is all grown up now. But Joey Tribbiani will always be remembered for his “How YOU doin’?” tagline. After “Friends,” Matt LeBlanc went on to star on several television series, including “Episodes,” “Top Gear,” and his current role as Adam Burns on “Man With a Plan.”
Like the rest of the cast from “Friends,” LeBlanc pockets a good $10-20 million a year in royalties. He’s got an estimated net worth of $80 million. Guess HE’S doin’ pretty good.
Courteney Cox is the one friend who has actually been in multiple music videos. Before she played Monica Gellar, she was featured in Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” music video and Counting Crows’ “A Long December” music video. She also created her own web series in 2019, called “9 Months With Courteney Cox.”
Her post-Friends resume includes accolades like Executive Producer and Director for multiple films and television shows. Cox is the second-highest earning “Friends” cast member, with a net worth of approximately $150 million.
Could Matthew Perry BE making any more money? Sure. But he doesn’t need to. After playing funnyman Chandler Bing on “Friends,” Perry went on to star in many different films and television shows. He has also been an Executive Producer for several television series and miniseries.
He was a co-creator of the 2011 television series “Mr. Sunshine,” but the show was canceled after nine episodes, due to low ratings.
Perry is the highest-earning male cast member from “Friends” and the third-highest earning cast member overall, with a net worth of around $120 million.