[US Navy Vet]

I have heard it said that if an actor(ess) can be on an even MODERATELY successful TV Series(or 2 Good Movies), he (or she) will never have to work again. Is this true?

[Future Snake Eater]

I heard the same thing. I believe it was four years of a successful series and the actor was set for life. Given how unlikely it is to get that four-year show, I certainly wouldn’t bank on it...

[Bobalu]

Depends on what you are satisfied with.

Most people could retire at 30 if they were OK with living like Mahatma Gandhi for the rest of their life ;-)

[Twotone]

I’ve heard that the actors on Friends got $400k per episode. I guess it depends on the show.

[jocon307]

I think that can be true, if you manage your money right.

I remember reading an interview with Flip Wilson, years after his one sucessful show went off the air, decades after, actually.

He stated that he never did have to earn money again, because he hired smart people, listened to them and was very conservative. He said: I never touched one penny of the principal.

But of course most people, in all walks of life and myself included aren’t like that.

[SamAdams76]

It helps to be married to your agent. When Gilligan's Island was filming, the actors received $1200 a week and limited residuals that never added up to much. The exception was Dawn Wells (who played Mary Anne). Her husband agent negotiated long-term residuals in case the show was syndicated and the CBS executives, probably thinking there would be no way such a silly show would see very many re-runs, agreed to it.

The result was that "Mary Anne" has earned millions of dollars over the years while fellow members of her cast, including Thurston Howell, got virtually squat.

[AmericanMermaid]

And whatever happened to Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell from Prison Break? Neither was a very strong actor, but it’s amazing how you’re a star for three or four seasons of a show, then totally disappear into obscurity.