Can you believe it's been three decades since Friends first aired?
This beloved sitcom has stood the test of time, with fans old and new still binge-watching today.
Its enduring popularity has also made its six leading stars incredibly rich. As Friends celebrates its 30th anniversary, read on to discover how much the cast earned from the series and what they did next to expand their fortunes.
All dollar amounts in US dollars.
Despite going on to earn fortunes from the show, the pay wasn’t initially that phenomenal for the cast. The stars earned a relatively paltry $22,000 (£17k) per episode during the first season, but they soon realised they could make much more.
Before work could start on the second season, the cast refused to begin filming until it was agreed they would be paid $100,000 (£79k) each per episode. But even that seems measly compared to the $1 million (£790k) an episode they would be banking by the time the final season rolled around.
Today, the show still manages to generate a whopping $1 billion (£790m) a year in syndication revenue for Warner Bros. Although the stars are only entitled to 2% of that income, it does provide a huge annual paycheque of $20 million (£16m) for each cast member. Not bad for the work you did two decades ago.
Meanwhile, the original cast saw their fortunes grow by at least $2.5 million (£2m) thanks to 2021's reunion episode. But who’s made the most money overall since Friends bowed out?
In the years since the show wrapped for good, Matt LeBlanc has featured mainly on the small screen, appearing in Friends spin-off series Joey, UK comedy Episodes, and the sitcom Man with a Plan.
In 2016, LeBlanc joined the BBC's popular automotive TV series Top Gear. He left the show in 2019 after four seasons, though he returned in 2021 for a special tribute episode to late racing driver Sabine Schmitz.
LeBlanc hasn’t completely shunned the big screen either, appearing in the Charlie’s Angels movies and the 2014 comedy Lovesick, to name a few.
LeBlanc has amassed an estimated fortune of $85 million (£64m).
Much of his wealth can be attributed to his success in Friends, but his various TV roles have also bolstered his earnings.
David Schwimmer initially shied away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, and aside from appearing as a voice actor in the Madagascar films, he largely disappeared from the public gaze. However, he made a successful leap into the world of directing, helming projects such as Little Britain USA and Growing Up Fisher.
In 2016, Schwimmer was back on TV screens as Rob Kardashian in the TV docu-series The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and in 2018–2019, he starred in five episodes of Will & Grace.
Most recently, Schwimmer starred in the 2024 dramedy movie Little Death.
Schwimmer’s diverse career has undoubtedly earned him a sizable fortune.
His net worth is estimated at a cool $120 million (£90m).
Matthew Perry tragically passed away on 28 October 2023, aged 54. He was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home.
Despite battling illness and addiction, Matthew Perry worked nonstop after Friends ended. His roles included films like The Ron Clark Story and 17 Again, while his TV credits included Scrubs and The Good Wife.
Perry also enjoyed a stint on the stage, starring in 2016's The End of Longing at the Playhouse Theatre in London.
His final performance was in the 2017 historical drama miniseries The Kennedys: Decline and Fall. He also filmed a cameo for the Oscar-nominated satire comedy Don't Look Up in 2021, but unfortunately for fans, his scenes were cut from the movie.
At the time of his death, Perry was reportedly worth $120 million (£90m).
Perry had always spoken candidly about his battles with addiction. His loved ones have now set up a charity in his name to help others facing the same issues called The Matthew Perry Foundation.
The charity's website features a quote from Perry himself, who once said: "When I die, I don't want Friends to be the first thing that's mentioned – I want helping others to be the first thing that's mentioned. And I'm going to live the rest of my life proving that. Addiction is far too powerful for anyone to defeat alone. But together, one day at a time, we can beat it down."
The singer of the iconic song Smelly Cat song went on to appear in films such as Easy A and The Girl on the Train, as well as TV shows including Scandal and BoJack Horseman.
Kudrow has also created her own shows, with projects like Web Therapy and The Comeback under her belt.
Her most recent projects include voice roles in the animated TV shows Rick and Morty and Housebroken and the 2024 comedy-adventure series Time Bandits.
Her Friends fortune, along with her other work, has certainly lined her pockets.
It's estimated that Kudrow has a very healthy fortune of around $130 million (£98m) today.
Courteney Cox has been very busy since filming wrapped on Friends. She's appeared in a long list of movies, including a leading role in the ongoing Scream franchise.
Meanwhile, her TV credits include a starring role in Cougar Town from 2009 until 2015 and appearances in Shameless and Modern Family.
In between acting roles, she’s built up her bank account via endorsements with the likes of Pantene, Coca-Cola, and Avon. She's also profited from Coquette Productions, the production company she set up with her ex-husband, David Arquette.
With multiple sources of income, it's no surprise Cox is the second richest Friends alum.
Today, she boasts an estimated fortune of $150 million (£113m).
Jennifer Aniston arguably became the most famous member of the Friends troupe. Her role as Rachel Green kicked off her acting career, and she’s not looked back, appearing in blockbuster hits like 2004's Along Came Polly, the 2008 tearjerker Marley and Me, and Horrible Bosses in 2011.
She made a triumphant return to TV, starring alongside Reese Witherspoon in the award-winning Apple TV+ series The Morning Show.
The sought-after star has also landed several lucrative endorsements with huge companies like Emirates, Aveeno, and SmartWater.
Today, Aniston is thought to be worth a whopping $320 million (£241m), making her the richest member of the Friends cast by some distance.
Now discover which member of the Big Bang Theory cast is richest today
Updated by Danielle McAdam