- On Friday, WarnerMedia confirmed that a “Friends” reunion special, which has been in the works for months, is officially a go.
- The reunion special will debut in May with the launch of HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s new streaming service.
- “Sources close to the situation” told Variety that each of the six original cast members, including Jennifer Aniston, will receive upwards of $2.5 million for appearing in the special.
- In August, Forbes reported that Aniston was the world’s fifth-highest-paid actress and made an estimated $28 million before taxes between June 2018 and June 2019.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
After months of speculation, “Friends” fans can rejoice: A reunion special starring the iconic sitcom’s six original cast members is officially in the works.
The special will debut in May 2020 with the launch of HBO Max, WarnerMedia’s new streaming service. All 10 seasons and 236 episodes of “Friends,” which left Netflix at the end of 2019, will also be available through the service.
In August, Forbes listed Jennifer Aniston as the world’s fifth-highest-paid actress, estimating that she made $28 million before taxes between June 2018 and June 2019 – and the special is likely to boost that number even higher this year. According to “sources close to the situation,” each of the six stars will make upwards of $2.5 million from the reunion show, Variety reported.
Here’s a look at how much Aniston made as a cast member on “Friends,” what we know about her income post-show, and how she spends some of her fortune.
On Friday, WarnerMedia confirmed that a reunion special featuring the six original "Friends" cast members is officially a go.
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The reunion special will air in May 2020 with the launch of HBO Max, WarnerMedia's new streaming service. "Sources close to the situation" told Variety that the stars will make more than $2.5 million each from the special.
According to the Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint, the special will not be a new episode, but rather a "retrospective" featuring "interviews with the cast."
Source: Variety; Wall Street Journal
In November, Jennifer Aniston received the People's Icon Award at the People's Choice Awards for her career achievements in film and television.
In her People's Icon Award acceptance speech, Aniston credited "Friends" with her career success. "If I have any claim to this word 'icon,' it's only because I was able to be on an iconic show, with an iconic cast, and an iconic haircut," she said.
"Jennifer Aniston is a tour de force, who has portrayed some of the most iconic, unforgettable, and relatable characters of our time," said Jen Neal, General Manager, E! News, Live Events and Lifestyle Digital in an October People's Choice Awards press release. "For gracefully conquering comedy and drama on both the small and big screen, we're honoring Jennifer Aniston with 'The People's Icon of 2019.'"
Before joining the cast of the hit TV show "Friends" that launched her into the spotlight, Aniston got her start in the 1993 horror film "Leprechaun," in which her character is chased by a killer leprechaun.
Source: The Independent
Aniston joined the cast of "Friends" in 1994 and has made millions from the show, which aired for 10 seasons.
Source: Business Insider
In 2002, riding the tide of high ratings, the six principal "Friends" cast members banded together to negotiate $1-million-per-episode pay raises that amounted to $22 million per season.
Source: Business Insider
By the time "Friends" wrapped in 2004, Aniston made close to $1.25 million per episode, Forbes estimates.
Source: Forbes
Aniston still receives a considerable paycheck from reruns. In 2015, USA Today reported that each cast member receives $20 million annually from syndication profits.
Sources: USA Today, Business Insider
After the show, Aniston's film career took off. Her hit comedies include "He's Just Not That Into You" (2009) and "The Bounty Hunter" (2010), which grossed $178 million and $136 million in global box office sales respectively.
Most recently, Aniston starred in the 2019 Netflix film "Murder Mystery."
Source: IMDb
Aniston has also secured a slew of endorsements and partnerships, working with Glaceau Smartwater, Aveeno, and Emirates, among other companies.
Source: Business Insider
Speaking with Elle magazine for a July 2018 story about Aniston's business ventures, Forbes editor Natalie Robehmed estimated that Aniston makes more than $10 million annually through endorsements.
Source: Elle
In 2019, Aniston returned to television, starring in and producing "The Morning Show," an Apple TV+ original series that follows the lives of morning news broadcast journalists.
Source: Forbes, Business Insider
The show, whose cast also includes Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell, debuted November 1.
Source: Forbes
Forbes named Aniston the world's fifth-highest-paid actress in August, estimating that she earned $28 million before taxes between June 2018 and June 2019. In 2017, Forbes pegged her net worth at $200 million.
The actress spends some of her millions on real estate and interior design. In 2011, Aniston purchased an 11-bedroom mansion in Bel Air for $20.97 million and spent two years renovating the place with interior designer Stephen Shadley.
Source: International Business Times, People
Aniston also has a notoriously large beauty budget. In 2012, Total Beauty estimated that Aniston spends over $140,000 a year on her beauty and skincare routines, based on previous reports of her spending.
Aniston's beauty products reportedly include an in-home infrared sauna and a 24-carat-gold-plated facial sculpting wand.
Source: Vogue, Business Insider, Total Beauty
Aniston's haircuts alone are a pretty penny, costing her just shy of $1,000 per visit. Business Insider reported in 2012 that Aniston visits celebrity hair stylist Chris McMillan every six weeks.
Source: Business Insider
While Aniston invests heavily in self-care, she also gives back.
In 2017, she made headlines for donating $1 million to aid hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria. She has also been a longtime supporter of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, among other organizations.
Sources: Look to the Stars; Refinery29