Lisa Kudrow reveals the ‘Friends’ cast is still earning a staggering annual sum in residuals, more than two decades after the show ended

It has been over two decades since Friends ended its 10-year run, but the show is still making money for its stars. Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay in the series, revealed that the cast members are still receiving $20 million annually in residual payments. This stems from the show’s continued popularity, with its 236 episodes generating 520.2 million hours of streaming in 2025, according to Flix Patrol data. 

When Friends first aired in 1994, the cast – Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, David Schwimmer, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and Kudrow – were each paid $22,500 per episode. As the show grew in popularity, so did their salaries. By the time it ended in 2004, each cast member was earning up to $1 million per episode, making them one of the highest-paid casts in TV history.

The show’s success, however, was not without difficulties behind the scenes. Kudrow recalled how demanding the writers could be, especially when filming in front of a live audience of 400 people. “Don’t forget we were recording in front of a live audience of 400, and if you messed up one of these writers’ lines or it didn’t get the perfect response, they could be like, ‘Can’t the b—h f—ing read? She’s not even trying. She f—ed up my line,'” The Daily Beast quotes Kudrow.

The death of Matthew Perry pushed Kudrow to revisit the show with fresh eyes

In 2005, a production assistant named Amaani Lyle filed a lawsuit against the show’s writers, claiming they had made sexually charged remarks to her. Lyle lost the case, but the incident brought attention to the tense environment behind the scenes.

In 2023, Matthew Perry, who played Chandler Bing, passed away after a long struggle with addiction. His death deeply affected the cast and crew, and it led Kudrow to rewatch the series. “Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better. But for the first time, I truly appreciated just how great it was,” Kudrow said. “And whatever any of us do in the future, we will never experience something like that again.”

Since the show ended, all cast members have continued to work in film and television. Jennifer Aniston currently stars in Apple TV+’s The Morning Show. David Schwimmer appeared in Band of Brothers and voiced characters in the Madagascar animated film series. Courteney Cox starred in Cougar Town, while Matt LeBlanc hosted Top Gear, starred in the Showtime series Episodes, and reprised his role as Joey in the spin-off Joey.

Kudrow is currently starring in the long-awaited third season of her HBO series The Comeback. Interestingly, The Comeback shares its network with Euphoria, another HBO production, and fans curious about how Euphoria was adapted from another show may find the behind-the-scenes story surprisingly compelling. Kudrow has also spoken openly about the show’s imperfections, acknowledging both its flaws and its charm over the years.

The influence of Friends can clearly be seen in the sitcoms that came after it. Shows like How I Met Your Mother, New Girl, and Happy Endings borrowed its core formula: a group of friends, a shared hangout spot, and slow-burn romantic storylines. Friends essentially laid the groundwork for an entire generation of comedy shows that followed.

For context on where Friends stands among television history, it remains one of the most celebrated TV shows of the ’80s and ’90s that still holds up today. Despite some outdated jokes and moments that have not aged well, Friends remains a comfort show that people return to again and again. Its likable cast, running gags, and character development have kept it relevant long after it went off air.