According to TV Guide's roster of television stars rolling around naked in $100 bills, Charlie Sheen sits atop the list, earning some $825,000 per episode of Two and a Half Men, a show whose popularity and critical acclaim we do not understand. Among the highest grossing ladies is Mariska Hargitay, who's picking up 400 large per hairstyle change in Law & Order: SVU. But before you find yourself thinking these dollar figures are astounding, inflated, and undeserved, remember that Simon Cowell is picking up $50 million to wear tight shirts on American Idol each season. Meanwhile, consider this: There was once a time when the stars of Friends were each earning $1 million per episode, and Jerry Seinfeld was picking up even more. God, television sucks these days.
Editorial Director
TV stars should make a good living, but some of these salaries are way over the line, and completely ridiculous. And not a one of them should ever complain about money again. If you make these salaries during a couple of years, if you have an ounce of intelligence, you should be set for life–literally. So no complaining from these overpaid actors, directors and producers–none. And a little charity work wouldn't hurt, either, preferably on health, education and welfare issues.
Remember when Kelsey Grammer was earning seven figures to become the most paid, until Ray Romano upped him? I do. :(
mariska hargitay does a lot- and i'm talking A LOT- of charity work; she started a foundation called Joyful Heart that helps survivors of sexual assault heal, she sits on the board at SAVI which does similar work, she works with Safe Horizons, to prevent child abuse… i could go on, but you should educate yourself, because yes, she may be the highest paid actress on tv (besides oprah, of course) but she works hard in her job and outside it to make the world a better, safer place and she gives up a lot of her time and money and energy to do it. so she deserves a big paycheck, and while i agree with you that charlie sheen is a mystery, i think you should give mariska a break.