The highest paid TV actors and actresses of 2018 will surprise you

Here’s everything you need to know…

body confidence quotes Sofia Vergara
(Image credit: John Salangsang/REX/Shutterstock)

Here’s everything you need to know…

Forbes revealed its annual highest paid actors and actresses in film earlier this year. But it wasn’t Scarlett Johansson bagging the top female spot that surprised the public but George Clooney’s topping the male spot, despite not starring in any recent films.

It was instead of course down to the $1 billion sale of his Tequila company, Casamigos.

george clooney

This week, Forbes revealed 2018’s highest-paid TV actors and actresses, yet again surprising the public, this time because it revealed our TV habits.

The statistics also prove surprising in terms of the gender pay gap, with the gap seeming to decrease since last year.

Together, the world’s 10 highest-paid TV actors earned £141 million between June 2017 and June 2018 (down from £144 million the year before), and the world's 10 highest-paid TV actresses earned a combined £131 million in the same time frame (up from £122 million).

A photo posted by on

But who are the highest-paid TV actors and actresses of 2018?

Highest paid TV actors of 2018

1. Jim Parsons £20.7 million

2. Johnny Galecki £19.5 million

3. (tie) Simon Helberg £18.3 million

3. (tie) Kunal Nayyar £18.3 million

5. Mark Harmon £14.8 million

6. Ed O'Neill £10.9 million

7. Eric Stonestreet £10.5 million

8. Jesse Tyler Ferguson £10.1 million

9. Ty Burrell £9.3 million

10. Andrew Lincoln £8.6 million

A photo posted by on

Highest paid TV actresses of 2018

1. Sofia Vergara £33.2 million

2. Kaley Cuoco £19 million

3. Ellen Pompeo £18.3 million

4. Mariska Hargitay £10 million

5. Julie Bowen £9.7 million

6. Mayim Bialik (tie) £9.3 million

6. Melissa Rauch (tie) £9.3 million

8. Kerry Washington £8.6 million

9. Claire Danes £7 million

10. Pauley Perrette £6.6 million

Well, that's that.

Jenny Proudfoot
Features Editor

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.