Lisa Kudrow Says ‘Friends’ Cast Still Earns Millions Annually in Residuals Decades After Finale

More than 20 years after “Friends” aired its final episode, its principal cast continues to receive substantial annual earnings from the show’s ongoing popularity.

In a recent interview with “The Times of London,” Lisa Kudrow said she and her fellow co-stars each still earn approximately $20 million per year in residual payments tied to reruns and streaming distribution. The actress, who portrayed Phoebe Buffay throughout the series’ 10-season run, attributed the continued revenue to the show’s lasting appeal across generations.

“After Matthew died,” Kudrow told the outlet, referring to co-star Matthew Perry, who died in 2023, “I watched the show again. 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 described the ensemble cast, including Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, and Matt LeBlanc, as a key factor in the show’s success, singling out Perry’s performance as Chandler Bing as particularly influential.

“There was a genius at work,” she said, adding that the cast is unlikely to replicate that experience in future projects.

The sitcom, which aired on NBC from 1994 to 2004, followed six young adults navigating relationships and careers in New York City. Its depiction of pre-social-media life centered around face-to-face interaction at a fictional Central Perk cafe was cited by Kudrow as part of its enduring resonance, particularly among younger audiences discovering the series years after its conclusion.

“Friends captured a kind of innocence that maybe a younger generation has never got to experience,” she said,

Kudrow’s path to stardom began outside of acting. A graduate of Vassar College with a degree in biology, she initially considered a career in research before pursuing comedy. Encouraged by actor Jon Lovitz, she trained with Los Angeles-based improv group The Groundlings, later securing guest roles on television series including “Cheers” and “Mad About You.”

“I grew up with my brother’s best friend, Jon Lovitz,” she told the Los Angeles Times in a 2024 interview. “The summer I graduated college is when he got into ‘Saturday Night Live.’ I told him, ‘I think I want to give acting a try.’ And he said, ‘Great, go to the Groundlings.’”

Her casting as Phoebe Buffay marked a turning point, launching her into mainstream recognition.

Over the course of “Friends,” Kudrow received critical acclaim, including a Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series. By the show’s final seasons, the six leads had negotiated salaries of $1 million each per episode, a landmark deal at the time achieved through collective bargaining.