The show’s star actors Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco negotiated with CBS together and became the highest-paid actors. Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch who joined during season 3 and became regulars a year later, also negotiated together and waited to be paid the same amount as the originals. The five co-stars agreed to a $100,000 pay cut per episode in order for the two actresses to receive the salaries that they deserve.
Now that the “Big Bang Theory” is done, it is interesting to see how much the whole cast has changed since. This show led the actors to major success and wealth. Let’s look at how the cast has transformed as well as the increase in their salaries!
John Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter – Then
We met Leonard during season 1 when he worked as an experimental physicist and Sheldon Cooper’s roommate and best friend. He loves Sheldon but often gets annoyed by his eccentricity.
Leonard is super smart, like the rest of his friends, and has a Ph.D. from Princeton, which he finished when he was the ripe age of 24. He fell in love with Penny, who has dreams of being an actress, and the two eventually tied the knot in the ninth season.
John Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter – Now
TBBT wasn’t John’s first acting gig, but it did make his name a well-known one. He now has several awards in his arsenal, including an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
John has since starred in other movies and television shows, but none have brought him success, like his role in this show. John’s role as Leonard made him a salary of $350,000 per episode until the 8th season, following a whopping increase to $900,000 per episode.
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper – Then
Sheldon has been a fan favorite since the start of the show. He is a Caltech theoretical physicist and was once roommates with Leonard, his best friend. He easily annoys those around him, has a very serious demeanor, and is anal about his routine.
He rocks his geekiness and his arrogance, believing himself to be perfect. He started dating neurobiologist Amy in season 5, and they become engaged in season 10.
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper – Now
Jim is another star of the show who found himself blossoming in his role as the beloved Sheldon. He has taken home a Golden Globe and an Emmy for his work.
You may have recognized his voice in the animated movie "Home," where he plays an eccentric and freethinking alien named Oh. Jim made $900,000 per episode (along with John and Kaley), making him one of the highest-paid actors in comedy television.