It’s been over two decades since one of television’s most iconic sitcoms aired its final episode, yet its stars are still earning staggering amounts of money.

Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay on the hit show Friends, has revealed that the cast continues to receive massive annual payouts from the show’s ongoing success.

And the figure is turning heads.

From Unknown Actors to Global Superstars

When Friends first premiered in 1994, none of the main cast were household names.

But over the course of 10 seasons, the ensemble — including Kudrow, Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer — became some of the most recognizable actors in the world.

Their salaries reflected that rise dramatically.

  • Early seasons: around $22,500 per episode
  • Final seasons: up to $1 million per episode

At the time, it was one of the most talked-about pay deals in TV history.

The Real Money Didn’t End in 2004

While the final episode aired in 2004, the income stream never actually stopped.

Thanks to syndication, streaming deals, and global reruns, the show continues to generate enormous revenue.

According to Kudrow, the surviving cast members still earn around $20 million per year each in residual payments.

That means even 20+ years later, Friends is still one of the most profitable sitcoms ever made.

Why Friends Still Makes So Much Money

The ongoing earnings come from several sources:

  • Streaming rights on platforms like Netflix and Max
  • International TV reruns
  • Syndication deals across global networks
  • Licensing and merchandising

Because the show remains one of the most-watched sitcoms in history, demand hasn’t slowed down.

Lisa Kudrow’s Reflections on the Show

Speaking about the series, Kudrow admitted she has a new appreciation for it after revisiting it following the death of co-star Matthew Perry.

She explained that she used to focus only on her own performance flaws, but later realized the show’s lasting success was due to something bigger.

“There was a genius at work,” she said.
“Whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again.”

Life on Set Wasn’t Always Easy

Despite the show’s warm, comedic image, Kudrow has previously spoken about the intense pressure behind the scenes.

Filming in front of a live audience of around 400 people meant every line, timing choice, and performance was scrutinized in real time.

Mistakes weren’t always taken lightly, and expectations were extremely high due to the show’s popularity.

Still, she has consistently maintained that the experience was one of the most important of her career.

A Legacy That Still Pays Off

Even years after the finale, the cultural impact of Friends continues to grow.

New generations continue discovering the show through streaming, keeping its relevance — and revenue — alive.

Few television shows in history have managed to maintain this level of global demand for so long.

And for the cast, that legacy has turned into something rare in entertainment:

a lifelong paycheck from a show that never truly stopped airing.