How much is the cast of Friends worth today?
The short answer is: a lot.
Famously earning $1 million per episode in the sitcom's heyday, the cast continues to
have every reason to fountain dance thanks to massive residual earnings, as well as big
bank from various other projects.
Best known as paleontologist Ross Geller, David Schwimmer delivered an Emmy-nominated
performance as a character audiences either loved or hated.
"DANGER!
DANGER!"
"What the hell was that?"
"A lesson in the importance of 'unagi.'"
While increasingly making bank throughout the show's run gave him the financial stability
to pursue various on-screen and behind-the-scenes endeavors, the actor-director struggled with
his overnight fame, telling The Hollywood Reporter's Awards Chatter podcast that balancing
work with his celebrity was so "tricky" that it, quote, "took years…to adjust to."
To further complicate things, Schwimmer has often found himself typecast.
Calling his Friends success a "paradox," he told the Los Angeles Times in 2016:
These difficulties led Schwimmer to noticeably spend his post-Friends career largely out
of the spotlight, but that doesn't mean he was on a break.
"We were on a break!"
While the Madagascar voice actor still continued to find work in Tinseltown and on Broadway,
2016 saw his highly-anticipated return to the small screen.
Following his critically-acclaimed turn as Robert Kardashian on American Crime Story:
The People v. OJ Simpson, he landed a recurring role as Debra Messing's on-screen love interest
Noah on Will & Grace two years later.
With his on-screen prospects looking up, Schwimmer's multi-talents have led him to obtain a reported
net worth of $85 million.
While the Friends gang have all gone on to find varying degrees of success in showbiz,
Jennifer Aniston undeniably became the show's biggest breakout star after leaving the role
of Rachel Green behind, which we honestly should've seen coming considering there was
a literal haircut named after her alter ego.
"Alright, listen, Mitzi.
If you want this cart, then you're going to have to take me with it!"
After nabbing an Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a comedy series in 2002, the
TV star refocused her career on the big screen in a slew of box office smash hits like Bruce
Almighty, We're the Millers, and Marley and Me.
But she didn't just act.
According to Elle, business mogul Aniston has not only run her own Echo Films production
company since 2008, but has also landed several lucrative endorsement deals with the likes
of SmartWater, Emirates Airline, and Aveeno.
She even co-owned the hair-care company Living Proof until 2016.
Oh, and as of May 2019, Variety reports that she'll top her Friends salary with a whopping
$1.1 million per episode to star in the Apple TV+ dramedy, The Morning Show.
Aniston, who reportedly used to clean toilets for pocket cash in high school, was one of
the world's highest-paid actresses in 2018.
Due to her artistic and financial efforts, she's unsurprisingly maintained the biggest
net worth of her former co-stars at a reported $240 million.
Before leaving the role of funnyman Chandler Bing behind in 2004, Matthew Perry had unfortunately
already begun struggling both personally and professionally.
According to People, he went through multiple rehab stints due to his longtime battle with
prescription pills and alcohol addiction.
Throughout his journey toward sobriety, the TV star continued to work, albeit to varying
success.
In addition to appearing in various box office flops like The Whole Ten Yards and 17 Again,
Perry starred in a number of short-lived TV series like Mr. Sunshine and The Odd Couple.
He's devoted much of his time to executive producing and writing in more recent years,
according to The New York Times.
That said, it doesn't look like Perry's itching to make that Friends money again, as he's
openly spoken out against the idea of doing a reboot.
In 2017, he told Vanity Fair:
Could he BE making a better point?
Besides, with a reported net worth of $80 million, we'd say Perry's continued to do
pretty well for himself.
Courteney Cox, a.k.a. Friends' own high-strung chef Monica Geller, initially struggled to
maintain her television superstar momentum in the mid-2000s.
"You want a problem?
I'll give you a problem!"
After having to pass the iconic role of Teri Hatcher's Susan on Desperate Housewives "for
personal reasons," the actress appeared in the critical flop Zoom.
To add insult to injury, Cox's next small screen endeavor, the 2007 series Dirt, failed
to survive the writers' strike after suffering from dwindling ratings and lukewarm critical
reception.
The Scream star thankfully found her footing after launching Coquette Productions in 2004,
according to People.
The production company, which she shares with ex-husband David Arquette, went on to produce
the actress' next big claim to fame: Cougar Town.
However, like her on-screen husband Matthew Perry, Cox has gone on record to say that
a Friends reunion is indeed a no-go.
She told Yahoo'd Myself in 2015:
Welp…there you have it.
This multi-talent clearly isn't hurting for her old NBC salary.
While wearing multiple hats as actress, director, and producer, Cox has been able to maintain
her on-screen presence while reportedly accumulating an impressive net worth of $120 million.
Way to go, Mon.
"Am I on fire today, or what?"
Just before landing the role of the lovable yet womanizing aspiring actor Joey Tribbiani
on Friends, Matt LeBlanc was broke.
Like, REALLY broke.
During an appearance on Conan in 2019, he revealed:
"You know when you think, 'Alright, I got a little money in the bank, I can hold out
'til the next gig.'
I had, I think, I was down to $11.
Now that's holding out too long."
Unlike his former co-stars, the actor understandably held onto his most popular character long
after the show wrapped.
LeBlanc went on to star on his own spin-off series, Joey, in 2004.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your take on the iffy spin-off, the ill-fated
sitcom was cancelled after two seasons due to low ratings, but as the TV star told The
Guardian in 2012, quote, "I made a f---ing s---load of money, so call it a failure all
you want."
While LeBlanc's on-screen career appeared to be in trouble, he turned things around
after a five-year hiatus by playing a version of himself for six seasons on Episodes.
"Don't turn around.
I said 'Don't turn around.'
Why's the minute I say, 'Don't-?"
"Okay!
I'm not turning.
Is it Bigfoot?"
The successful gig earned him a Golden Globe in 2012, and the actor's follow-up turn on
CBS' Man with a Plan was renewed for a third season in 2018.
So, how you doin', Matt LeBlanc?
Well, we'd say our guy is doing just fine financially these days, with a reported net
worth of $80 million.
During her Friends days, Lisa Kudrow played double duty.
In addition to her Emmy-winning portrayal of the ever-eccentric Phoebe Buffay…
"No, no!
The end!
Okay, what kind of a sick doggie snuff film is this?"
…the actress took on the recurring role of twin sister Ursula on NBC's Mad About You.
While we're not sure what that meant for her bank account, it did make for a multitude
of memorable crossover episodes.
Oh, and she also starred in the cult comedy Romy and Michele's High School Reunion in
1997, no big deal.
In 2015, Kudrow told The Guardian that her early successes, quote, "... gave [her] financial
stability."
She explained:
Naturally, the actress went on to expand her horizons by writing, producing, and starring
in HBO's The Comeback and the webseries-turned-Showtime hit Web Therapy.
She also guest-starred on shows like The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Grace and Frankie, and appeared
in films like Analyze This and Neighbors.
With dozens of on-screen credits to her name, Kudrow has since reportedly accumulated a
net worth of $70 million.
You keep doing you, Pheebs.
"What's more important?
Your friends or money?"
"Friends."
"MONEY!"
After getting his big break in the 1995 classic Clueless, Paul Rudd was already a rising star
in his own right when he joined the cast of Friends as Mike Hannigan.
"What are you doing?"
"Setting rat traps?"
"To kill Bob?"
"No, no.
To test his neck strength."
He played Lisa Kudrow's on-screen love interest toward the end of the series, and the actor-writer-producer
went on to have a massive career on-and-off screen, including roles in Wet Hot American
Summer, Anchorman, and Knocked Up.
He even reunited with old pal Jennifer Aniston in 2012's Wanderlust.
Despite his continued success in showbiz, Rudd admitted that fans still ask about Phoebe
during an appearance on Good Morning America in 2018.
"And then sometimes, I'll get, 'How's Phoebe?'"
"Oh, no!
That's right!
Yes!"
On top of never appearing to age and his undeniable talents, Rudd can perhaps owe the longevity
of his career to knowing the meaning of a hard-earned buck.
He once revealed on CBS' Sunday Morning that one of his first jobs was that of a ham glazer,
which…is exactly what it sounds like.
Explaining that the gig allowed him to save up enough money for acting school in Los Angeles,
Rudd added:
We'd say it has.
Rudd began cashing those Marvel paychecks as the MCU's very own Ant-Man in 2015,
and reportedly has a net worth of $30 million to boot.
As synonymous with Magnum, P.I. as he is with his facial hair, Tom Selleck was already a
TV icon in his own right a decade before landing Friends in 1996.
The legendary actor played Dr. Richard Burke, the much older love interest of Courteney
Cox's Monica, in a memorable ten-episode story arc that surprisingly almost didn't happen.
"I'm sorry.
Is Monica Geller coming?
I was told she was."
"Dr. Burke, it's me!"
"Monica?"
While speaking with The A.V.
Club in 2015, Selleck revealed that he'd been advised against taking the gig.
He dished:
However, Selleck genuinely liked the sitcom, had built his career on "taking risks," and,
of course, ultimately said yes.
Apparently, he'd thought, quote, "All of those actors were a joy to work with," and he would
have done as many as 30 episodes if they'd asked him to!
The showbiz veteran proved that he hadn't lost his undeniable chemistry with Cox in
2018, when the two shared an impromptu reunion at a New York City bar.
Beyond Friends, Selleck went on to appear on the CBS procedural drama series Blue Bloods
and has enjoyed starring and producing roles within the Jesse Stone TV movie franchise.
With over 80 on-screen credits to his name, he has reportedly accumulated an impressive
net worth of $45 million to boot.
Jane Sibbett is best known for playing Carol Willick on Friends, a.k.a. the first ex-wife
of David Schwimmer's Ross.
"Y'know, I can't do this."
"So don't do it.
It's fine!
You don't have to do it just because Susan does it."
"Hello baby!"
On her website, the actress noted that this "groundbreaking role" was, quote, "one sweet
half of the historic, first lesbian TV wedding" to Jessica Hecht's Susan Bunch.
However, as Sibbett revealed to Metro at Comedy Central's FriendsFest in 2017, she nearly
missed out on the opportunity.
Pregnant at the time of her original audition to be a part of the Central Perk gang, Sibbett
was later cast after another actress didn't work out.
She explained:
She went on to gush about how "amazing" both the show's script and star David Schwimmer
were, which helped her realize that she had to nab the gig.
In addition to her notable turns in Herman's Head and It Takes Two, Sibbett referred to
herself as, quote, "an American actress, writer, director, producer, mother, photographer,
dancer, teacher…and so much more" on her website.
Overall, this multi-faceted career has earned Sibbett a reported net worth of $2 million.
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