Fans of Friends have been left astonished upon learning about the substantial annual earnings the cast still receives from the show.
On May 6, 2004, Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Phoebe, and Joey placed their keys on the counter and exited Monica’s apartment in New York City, marking the end of an era.
After years of delivering laughs, romances, and drama, Friends officially came to a close.
Even though it’s been over two decades since the series ended, the cast continues to rake in significant earnings from it.
According to a report by USA Today, Friends generates an impressive $1 billion each year for Warner Bros.
But what does that mean for the cast?
Well, stars like Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer each receive an annual paycheck of $20 million, despite the show concluding twenty years ago.
This revelation has left many fans in disbelief, with one person commenting on Instagram: “Crazy that they earn that much money every year.”
“I’m responsible for like half of that,” another fan joked.
In May, the Friends cast celebrated the 20th anniversary of the show, though the occasion was tinged with sadness due to the loss of Matthew Perry the previous year.
Perry tragically passed away in October last year after being found unresponsive at his home in Los Angeles.
The LA County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined in December that Perry died from ‘acute effects of ketamine’, stating that the manner of death was accidental.
The autopsy also cited drowning, coronary artery disease, and the opioid buprenorphine as contributing factors to his death.
Following his untimely death, the Friends cast released a joint statement to honor their friend and colleague.
They wrote: “We are all so utterly devastated by the loss of Matthew. We were more than just cast mates. We are a family.
“There is so much to say, but right now we’re going to take a moment to grieve and process this unfathomable loss.
“In time we will say more, as and when we are able.
“For now, our thoughts and our love are with Matty’s family, his friends, and everyone who loved him around the world.”
Each member also issued individual statements, with Cox expressing: “I am so grateful for every moment I had with you Matty and I miss you every day.”
“When you work with someone as closely as I did with Matthew, there are thousands of moments I wish I could share. For now here’s one of my favorites.”