Without Don Knotts, Mayberry wouldn’t be on the map of TV’s glory days. Barney Fife may be the most beloved TV character in history.
But Knotts’ paycheck was reportedly about one-third the size of Andy Griffith’s estimated $84,000 per season.
Then there was the popular 1980s show, The A-Team. Guess which actor earned the most on that show? Surprisingly, not “The General,” George Papard, who played Hannibal. Mr. T was the top earner of the four main characters.
Those old days paid nothing like modern TV. Jerry Seinfeld earned a million dollars per episode at the height of his show’s run.
What about Netflix stars? Henry Cavill made a reported $1 million per episode in The Witcher (season 2)!
Want to know more about the business side of The Andy Griffith Show? See the rest of the story in this video with intriguing details such as…
How much Ron Howard likely earned as Opie Taylor.
The smart business move that made Andy Griffith very wealthy.
Awards that prove Don Knotts was an incredible talent who was underpaid.
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Shane McLendon — Today’s Time Capsule writer
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