Lisa Kudrow Net Worth: How Much Did Phoebe Buffay Earn from “Friends,” Including Years with $10-20 Million in Royalties?
You’ve probably heard that Lisa Kudrow took $1 million per episode on the last two seasons of Friends. I’m sure that got you wondering: How rich could she have gotten from that show?
I’m here to answer that question, but I won’t just cover her Friends’s earnings. I’ll cover all her income streams and investments, giving you a comprehensive picture of Lisa Kudrow’s net worth.
How Did Lisa Kudrow Make a Living?
Let’s see how Kudrow built her massive net worth throughout the years.
Acting
Lisa Kudrow is many things, but most people worldwide know her as an actor. Let’s see what her career was like.
Early Career
Do you know how some successful actors find their calling early on and break into the industry at 10 or 12? That wasn’t Lisa Kudrow.
Kudrow decided to pursue acting after graduating college with a biology degree. She worked with her father (a physician) while trying to secure acting gigs.
Like most starting actors, she didn’t nail any significant roles. She became an improv actor with Unexpected Company and the Transformers Comedy Troupe.
She also appeared briefly in an episode of Cheers and three episodes of Bob. The first significant role she got was playing Roz Doyle in Frasier. Unfortunately, though, she didn’t nail her part during the rehearsals.
Kudrow said she let the pressure get the better of her, which I’m sure didn’t help her performance. Eventually, the producers gave the part to Peri Gelpin.
Yes, it was heartbreaking, but It might have been a blessing in disguise. After that experience, Kudrow got the chance to play the incompetent waitress Ursula on Mad About You (more on that later).
Friends
Let’s be honest; most people know Lisa Kudrow from her memorable role as Phoebe Buffay on the hit sitcom Friends. Embodying the role of a cheerful, free-spirited, weird woman, Kudrow played that part in a way no one else could.
We cannot imagine anyone else playing Phoebe Buffay other than Kudrow. Before I delve deeper into this, let’s return to her role as Ursula.
You see, Made About You and Friends aired back to back. So, producers had to find a way to explain why viewers see the same actress in two shows.
What do they do? They decided to make Ursula and Phoebe twins. In other words, if Kudrow hadn’t gotten the Ursula part, we would’ve never seen the evil twin plotline.
You have to admit, it was a fun one. Let’s thank our lucky stars. Now, let’s talk money.
Friends’s Salary
Kudrow received $22,500 an episode during the first season of Friends. It’s not much compared to industry standards, but she wasn’t well-known then, so it made sense.
However, rumors circulated that the producers raised Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer’s salary to $40,000 for the second season. So, the cast collectively stood together to get an equal pay raise.
When season 3 came along, they were receiving $75,000 an episode. That was a recurring trend during the following few years. Yes, the cast asked for a pay raise every season.
In season 4, they got $85,000. In season 5, the show reached a new level of popularity. So, this $10,000 raise wouldn’t cut it. They got $100,000 an episode each.
By the time season 6 came along, Kudrow was earning $125,000 an episode. Fast forward to season 9. The show was dominating the small screen. So, the cast asked for another pay raise.
You might want to sit down for this. Each member received $1 million an episode.
Friends Royalties
The cast demanded royalties from the show as if $1 million an episode wasn’t enough. That means that every time the show airs on a channel, they’d get money for it.
They’re still receiving money from the show to this day. Estimates report that they earned $10-20 million from these residuals.
Endorsements and Commercials
No, companies weren’t racing to get Kudrow in their commercials, but she still endorsed several brands throughout her career.
These include Aquafina, Yoplait, Nintendo, Diet Coke, American Express, and Dr. Pepper. These are all big brands. So, you can tell she got a hefty pay.
Of course, she made more money from acting than these endorsements, but they still contributed a decent amount of her net worth.
Real Estate
Yes, the money Kudrow received was enough to set her up for life, but actors rarely build a sizable net worth from one endeavor. The woman made a few sizable investments.
The first was buying a gorgeous 6,400-square-foot house in Beverly Hills for $1.9 million. While she never gave her fans an in-depth tour, she’s shared a few pictures on social media.
It’s not as glamorous as you might think. It seems like Kudrow decided to stick to minimal aesthetics. It’s a bold choice, and I applaud her for it.
Do you know what’s better than one mansion in Beverly Hills? Two mansions in Beverly Hills. Yes, our friend bought another property in 2001 for $2.4 million.
That’s enough Beverly Hills for today. She also had a penthouse in Park City, Utah, which she sold for $3.6 million. She hasn’t disclosed how much she spent on it, so I can’t tell if she made a profit.
What Is Lisa Kudrow’s Net Worth?
After a long acting career, Kudrow accumulated a net worth of $130, which isn’t surprising given her success.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, Lis Kudrow’s net worth is surrounded by questions. Would she have been worth so much if she hadn’t been part of the Friends cast?
Probably not, but she earned that money. After all, she played a role no other actress could play the same way. And that’s worth more than money.
