The Big Bang Theory cast members Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki are thought to have signed new contracts which will net them a cool $1million per episode. The three stars from the sitcom are now reportedly financially on par with the Friends cast, who are understood to have earned the same figure per show when the New York-based programme was its final seasons.
Kaley, Jim and Johnny's negotiations for new three-year contracts temporarily held up progress on season eight of the show – which airs on CBS in the United States and E4 in the UK.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe Big Bang Theory cast have signed new contracts
Now the stars’ representatives and Warner Bros TV have apparently agreed that the trio's salaries will remain fixed until season ten, and the possibility of recording a season 11 remains.
The revamped contracts mean Kaley, 28, and her co-stars Johnny, 39, and Jim, 41, have almost tripled their previous wages of $350,000 per instalment of the 30-minute programme.
They could potentially earn $90million each over the the next three years, thanks to a few other details. These include bonuses, production deals and increased ownership of the show, which is estimated to make a profit of $1billion over the same period.
© Photo: Getty ImagesBig Bang Theory cast Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar, Jim Parsons, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik and Simon Helberg
Kaley (Penny), Jim (Sheldon Cooper) and Johnny (Leonard Hofstadter) have their contracts locked down and Melissa Rauch (Bernadette Rostenkowski) plus Mayim Bialik (Amy Farrah Fowler) apparently came to an agreement last autumn for the new season.
Simon Helberg (Howard Wolowitz) and Kunal Nayyar (Raj Koothrappali) are expected to finalise plans before a table reading on Wednesday for the Los Angeles-based comedy.
The team is currently one week behind schedule for their 24-episode run and hope to make up time before the series premiere next month in the States, to prevent it being shortened to 23 episodes.
Writer Chuck Lorre has found success with other comedy offerings including Two and a Half Men, Mom and Dharma & Greg.
© Photo: Getty ImagesChuck Lorre and Kaley Cuoco
