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It may seem like the big bucks come from starring in blockbuster films, but there’s a special place for standout roles in primetime television and the list of highest-paid TV actresses and actors for 2018 which was compiled by Forbes definitely tells that story.
The top earner in 2018 has been Modern Family star Sofia Vergara, who earned a whopping $42.5 million for her role on the show. To put that into perspective, Vergara netted $16 million more than the next person on the list.
Second-place honors went to Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons at $26.5 million, and he began a trend. The next two television stars on the list also came from Big Bang Theory with Johnny Galecki raking in a cool $25 million and Kaley Cuoco earning $24.5.
Rounding out the top five were the only other actors or actresses to earn more than $20 million in the year with — you guessed it — two Big Bang Theory stars Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar, and Grey’s Anatomy standout Ellen Pompeo earning $23.5 million.
Did your favorite actress or actor earn a spot on the highest-paid list in 2018?
A complete list can be seen below, via Forbes.com.
Highest Paid TV Actresses & Actors in 2018
1. Sofia Vergara
Earnings
$42.5 million
Television Show
Modern Family
2. Jim Parsons
Earnings
$26.5 million
Television Show
Big Bang Theory
3. Johnny Galecki
Earnings
$25 million
Television Show
Big Bang Theory
4. Kaley Cuoco
Earnings
$24.5 million
Television Show
Big Bang Theory
5. (tie) Ellen Pompeo
Earnings
$23.5 million
Television Show
Grey’s Anatomy
5. (tie) Simon Helberg
Earnings
$23.5 million
Television Show
Big Bang Theory
5. (tie) Kunal Nayyar
Earnings
$23.5 million
Television Show
Big Bang Theory
8. Mark Harmon
Earnings
$19 million
Television Show
NCIS
9. Ed O’Neill
Earnings
$14 million
Television Show
Modern Family
10. Eric Stonestreet
Earnings
$13.5 million
Television Show
Modern Family
11. (tie) Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Earnings
$13 million
Television Show
Modern Family
11. (tie) Mariska Hargitay
Earnings
$13 million
Television Show
Law & Order: SVU
13. Julie Bowen
Earnings
$12.5 million
Television Show
Modern Family
14. (tie) Mayim Bialik
Earnings
$12 million
Television Show
Big Bang Theory
14. (tie) Melissa Rauch
Earnings
$12 million
Television Show
Big Bang Theory
14. (tie) Ty Burrell
Earnings
$12 million
Television Show
Modern Family
17. (tie) Kerry Washington
Earnings
$11 million
Television Show
Scandal
17. (tie) Andrew Lincoln
Earnings
$11 million
Television Show
The Walking Dead
19. Claire Danes
Earnings
$9 million
Television Show
Homeland
20. Pauley Perrette
Earnings
$8.5 million
Television Show
NCIS