Despite a broader slowdown in scripted television production across Hollywood, top-tier talent continues to command seven-figure paydays on streaming platforms. A new industry compilation published on November 12, 2026, by Variety reveals that more than 20 leading actors—including Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Sylvester Stallone, Chris Pratt, Zendaya, and Selena Gomez—are earning an estimated $1 million to $2 million per episode to anchor high-profile series.

While the era of peak television volume has receded from its 2022 high of 600 scripted series, streaming services such as Apple TV, Paramount+, Prime Video, and Hulu are still writing massive checks for established box-office draws who can attract and retain subscribers. Industry insiders note that while overall production budgets have tightened and major corporate shifts—such as the Paramount-Warner Bros.

merger and leadership changes at Netflix—have slowed dealmaking in the film sector, the financial upper echelon of television remains remarkably lucrative for performers at the top of the call sheet.

The $2 Million Club: Streaming's Highest Earners

At the very top of the television compensation scale is an exclusive quartet of stars commanding approximately $2 million per episode. On Apple TV, Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon each earn around $2 million per installment for the Emmy-winning dramedy The Morning Show. According to TVLine, the series recently wrapped production ahead of its fifth and final season, which is slated to premiere next year. Witherspoon previously defended the pair's compensation packages in a press interview cited by The Daily Beast, noting that major media companies are strategic and agree to those figures for clear business reasons.

Joining Aniston and Witherspoon at the $2 million mark is Sylvester Stallone, who pulls in the approximate figure for his starring role as mob boss Dwight Manfredi on the Taylor Sheridan-produced Paramount+ drama Tulsa King.

The crime series has proven to be a reliable performer for the platform and was renewed for a fifth season last month.

Rounding out the top tier is Chris Pratt, who reportedly earns $2 million per episode to play Navy SEAL commander James Reece on the Prime Video military thriller The Terminal List. The action drama returned last month for an eight-episode second season, four years after its initial debut.

The Million-Dollar Roster: From 'Shrinking' to 'Euphoria'

Just below the $2 million ceiling sits a group of veteran film and television actors earning well over seven figures per episode. According to EntertainmentNow, Kenneth Branagh is set to earn a reported $1.4 million per episode to headline the upcoming Paramount+ drama Laird, in which he portrays a Scottish landowner clashing with an American billionaire.

On Apple TV's comedy series Shrinking, which secured a Season 4 renewal earlier this year, co-stars Harrison Ford and Jason Segel each command $1.3 million per episode.

Meanwhile, over at Paramount+, the Yellowstone spin-off Dutton Ranch pays leads Kelly Reilly and Cole Hauser $1.2 million per episode apiece following its May debut and subsequent Season 2 renewal. Emmy winner Elisabeth Moss also cleared the seven-figure hurdle, earning a reported $1.1 million per episode for the single season of Apple TV's thriller Shining Girls in 2022.

A wide array of stars sits at or just above the $1 million-per-episode baseline:

  • Zendaya: Reported at $1 million per episode for the third and final season of HBO's Euphoria, according to summaries by Yahoo Entertainment and TMZ.
  • Selena Gomez, Steve Martin, and Martin Short: The comedic trio behind Hulu's Only Murders in the Building all earn seven figures as the show enters Season 6. Note that reporting varies slightly on their exact compensation: Variety reports the three stars are easily clearing more than $1 million per episode, whereas summaries from outlets like TVLine categorize their pay at the $1 million mark.
  • Nicolas Cage: Earned a reported $1 million per episode for Spider-Noir.
  • Jennifer Garner: Crossed the $1 million threshold for the Peacock series The Five-Star Weekend.
  • Additional $1 Million Earners: The reported seven-figure club also includes film veterans and streaming regulars Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert De Niro, Andrew Garfield, Jude Law, and Alan Ritchson for their respective series.

The Economics of Modern Streaming Deals

Talent agents told Variety that the demand for bankable stars who can anchor a series is higher than ever, making the financial rewards for being number one or two on a call sheet historically lucrative. Unlike traditional broadcast network television, which often required grueling 22-episode seasons, streaming platforms typically order six, eight, or 10 episodes per cycle. This lighter production schedule has proved highly attractive to film actors—particularly those who may have aged out of traditional studio tentpoles—allowing them to collect an eight-figure overall payday for a fraction of the time commitment.

However, massive star salaries can also create financial friction when platforms evaluate show renewals. While big names draw initial eyeballs, high episodic costs can weigh heavily against a project's long-term viability.

For example, Spider-Noir achieved strong viewership numbers but was ultimately canceled after a single season because the production was deemed too expensive to continue, due in part to Nicolas Cage's hefty compensation.

Key Questions About Reported TV Salaries

Are the quoted figures acting salaries alone, or do they include other fees?

The numbers are reported industry estimates rather than confirmed public contract disclosures from studios or talent representatives. Furthermore, while some secondary outlets describe the rankings as a precise, complete list of acting pay, Variety explicitly notes in its November 13 update that its compilation is not exhaustive, does not include broadcast network shows, and relies on approximate figures. Crucially, for stars like Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, the $2 million episodic estimate may bundle acting compensation with executive-producing fees and back-end bonuses.

How do episode counts and season renewals affect these paydays?

Because streaming series generally run between six and 10 episodes per season, a $1 million to $2 million episodic rate translates to roughly $6 million to $20 million per season.

However, these figures are often tied to specific seasons and depend entirely on a show's survival. While stars on multi-season hits like Tulsa King or Only Murders in the Building can compound their earnings over years, a $1 million per-episode rate on a one-season series like Spider-Noir or Shining Girls represents a one-time payday rather than ongoing annual income.

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