More than two decades after Friends wrapped its tenth and final season, Lisa Kudrow says the sitcom is still generating staggering paydays for its stars.
$20 Million a Year
In a new interview with The Times, Kudrow confirmed that she and her surviving castmates — Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer — continue to receive a staggering $20 million each per year in residuals from the show’s ongoing success.
The revelation underscores just how massive the series remains in syndication and streaming, long after its 2004 finale. Their sixth co‑star, Matthew Perry, died in 2023 at age 54 following an accidental overdose and drowning.
Rewatching the Show
Kudrow, who played the eccentric and beloved Phoebe Buffay, also reflected on how her relationship with the show has changed over time.
She admitted she rarely rewatched Friends while it was airing or in the years immediately after, saying she tended to focus on her own perceived mistakes.
That shifted after Perry’s death, when she revisited the series with fresh eyes.
She said, “After Matthew died, I watched the show again.”
“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.”
Kudrow added that her cast mates’ performances hit her differently this time around, praising Aniston, Cox, LeBlanc, and Schwimmer — and calling Perry “beyond us all.”
Financial Success
The cast’s financial success is rooted in a groundbreaking contract negotiation.
During the early seasons, each actor earned $22,500 per episode.
By banding together and refusing to negotiate separately, the six stars secured equal pay and ultimately reached the now‑famous $1 million‑per‑episode salary for Seasons 9 and 10.
Their united front became a landmark moment in TV salary history.
The Friends machine hasn’t slowed down since.
In addition to annual residuals, each cast member earned $2.5 million for the 2021 HBO Max reunion special, which brought them back together on the iconic Warner Bros. soundstage for the first time in years.
Even as television evolves, Friends remains one of the most profitable sitcoms ever made — and Kudrow’s comments show just how deeply its legacy continues to shape the lives of the actors who brought it to life.
Modern Sitcoms
The 62-year-old actress recently explained why she isn’t a fan of modern sitcoms.
She told Lily Tomlin for Interview Magazine, “I wish they were evolving. 30 Rock and Seinfeld and Friends were really funny and really well written.”
“But I’m not drawn to new sitcoms that are multi-camera in front of an audience because I’m not buying it.”
“I don’t know if that’s just because I’ve seen too many single-camera sitcoms — I think we need to get back to being able to tell jokes. I feel like we’ve been too afraid to make jokes that might make people uncomfortable.”