‘Modern Family’ Cast Earns Big: Cast Makes a Lot in Residuals
Modern Family became a TV phenomenon during its 11-season run, giving fans the chance to watch its cast grow and evolve on screen.
Praised as one of the most successful comedies of the 21st century, the show mixed sharp humor with heartfelt moments, often showing the real-life challenges families face.
The cast was praised for perfect casting, from Ed O’Neill and Sofia Vergara to Sarah Hyland and Ariel Winter. Their salaries grew tremendously over the years.
According to Buzzfeed, Ed O’Neill started at $95,000 per episode in the first season and earned $500,000 per episode by season 11. Julie Bowen, Sofia Vergara, Ty Burrell, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson all started between $30,000 to $60,000 per episode and eventually reached $500,000.
Eric Stonestreet went from $20,000 to $500,000 per episode. Younger cast members like Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Nolan Gould, and Rico Rodriguez began around $25,000 per episode and finished their run making over $100,000.
On top of these salaries, O’Neill reportedly makes $10 million a year from residuals, according to Giant Freakin Robot, although similar figures for other cast members aren’t publicly available. With over 20 episodes per season (except the last), that $500,000 per episode adds up to a massive amount.
However, the path to those big paychecks wasn’t easy. In 2012, several cast members filed legal papers to have their contracts declared void, aiming to negotiate higher pay.
The actors who joined the lawsuit were Vergara, Burrell, Bowen, Tyler Ferguson, and Stonestreet, as reported by BBC News. They argued that their contracts were illegal and restricted them from taking on other work. O’Neill did not join the suit.
The court documents stated, “Modern Family has been a breakout critical and financial success. That success, however, has been built upon a collection of illegal contracts.”
During the dispute, the cast refused to attend the first script readings of season four until their demands were addressed.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, they were seeking more than $300,000 per episode if the series continued past its eighth season. Their fight for fair pay ultimately helped them reach the incredible salaries that fans saw in the show’s later years.
Modern Family’s cast salaries and residuals show how much hard work and negotiation can pay off in Hollywood. The show’s success was not just on-screen but behind the scenes as well.
What do you think about the cast’s fight for higher pay? Do you think they deserved it? Share your thoughts in the comments.