While a new crop of TV talk show hosts are jockeying for ratings success, Jon Stewart is the king of the late night, at least in terms of his paycheck.
The host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” is earning $25 to $30 million a year, surpassing the retiring David Letterman, who will make $20 million in his final year as host of the “Late Show” on CBS, according to TV Guide Magazine.
The magazine’s sixth annual “TV’s Highest Paid Stars” issue hits newsstands this week, ranking the salaries of some of the most recognizable faces in television by genre for the upcoming TV season.
In addition to Stewart, top annual earners include Judy Sheindlin, who presides over the syndicated “Judge Judy,” at $47 million, and “Today Show” co-host Matt Lauer, who makes $22-25 million on the NBC morning talk show, according to TV Guide.
Among other stars raking in big bucks, Jim Parsons of “Big Bang Theory” gets $1 million per episode, as are his fellow cast members. Ashton Kutcher takes in $750,000 per episode of “Two and a Half Men,” and Mark Harmon is making $525,000 episode plus profit sharing for “NCIS.”
The full list can be found in this week’s issue of TV Guide.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
