MUMBAI: TV is said to be seeing its best era. Audiences have sea of quality content to pick from, be it from cable networks, broadcast television, or a streaming service. But, how far does that monetarily help those on the screen?
For the fifth year running, Sofia Vergara has topped the list of the world’s highest-paid TV actresses, with her most significant take yet of $ 43 million. The Colombian actress led the list of the highest-paid TV artistes, bringing in $ 43 million in the 12 months to June.
The vital part of her pay is ironically not for her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett that is responsible for her 66% earnings jump over the last year. It’s licensing and endorsement deals she struck – for products including dandruff shampoo Head and Shoulders and a line of furniture, and nurse scrubs –which have turned out to be most beneficial.
Kaley Cuoco, the runner-up, however, made the most as her performance fee. She pocketed $ 24.5 million in the same period, mostly from her role as Penny on Big Bang Theory.
Between June 2015 and June 2016, the 15 highest-paid female stars of the small screen earned a combined $ 208.5 million, almost $ 43.5 million more than last year’s.
This growth can be attributed to new worthwhile endorsement deals (such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ with Old Navy and Vergara’s with the Ninja Coffee Bar).
A crucial new entry in the list is Priyanka Chopra, who stars on ABC’s Quantico. While Chopra is relatively new to an American audience, she is one of the most well-known actresses in India. In 2015, she featured in two leading Bollywood films (Jai Gangaajal and Bajirao Mastani). Later this year, she will be seen in one of the lead roles in Baywatch alongside Hollywood leading lights such as the world’s best-paid actor Dwayne Johnson.
But, like most actresses, her millions were not made from acting alone. Chopra recently bagged a seven-figure deal with the juice brand Appy Fizz.
Stana Katic, the lead of ABC’s mystery series Castle, has lately been added to the list. The network received consistent ratings although the show saw little critical attention. Katic returned for the final season after haggling a handsome deal.
