Nearly 20 years after the final episode of Everybody Loves Raymond aired, star Ray Romano continues to rake in an estimated $18 million (£14 million) annually from syndication and streaming residuals, according to reports from Forbes and Vanity Fair. The sitcom, which ran from 1996 to 2005, remains popular on platforms like Paramount+ and Peacock, generating substantial ongoing income for its lead actor.
Romano, now 68, famously secured one of the most lucrative contracts in US television history during the show's final years. At the height of its success, he signed a $40 million deal, making him the highest-paid TV actor at the time. By the ninth season, he was earning nearly $2 million per episode—equivalent to over $3 million today when adjusted for inflation.
The staggering pay disparity reportedly caused tensions behind the scenes, particularly with co-star Brad Garrett, who played Ray's brother Robert. Garrett threatened to leave the show after learning of Romano's earnings, and was supported by cast members Patricia Heaton, Doris Roberts, and Peter Boyle. CBS eventually renegotiated contracts for the rest of the cast, including syndication profit-sharing deals. Romano later acknowledged understanding the friction.
Romano's net worth is now estimated at around $200 million, largely due to backend profits from the series. The revelation has shocked fans online, with many joking that the actor 'never has to work again'. Earlier this year, Friends star Lisa Kudrow revealed that the cast still earns around $20 million annually in residuals, highlighting the enduring financial power of classic sitcoms.
