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The best-supported comparison is between dated reports of The Simpsons cast’s per-episode pay—not verified personal fortunes. A 1998 report said the actors described their original fee as $25,000 per episode, while later coverage documented substantially higher reported pay negotiations. None of those figures establishes what Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Harry Shearer, or Hank Azaria is worth today.
Who counts as the principal cast?
The series debuted in 1989, and its core voice performers include six actors who voice many of Springfield’s best-known characters. The Television Academy’s series overview dates the debut; the character descriptions below identify the performers relevant to this comparison.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Simpsons Complete Series Ultimate Collection Seasons 1-17 & Season 20 | $699.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Simpsons: Season 1 | $48.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Simpsons - The Complete Third Season | $63.40 | Buy on Amazon |
- Dan Castellaneta: Homer Simpson and other characters
- Julie Kavner: Marge Simpson and other characters
- Nancy Cartwright: Bart Simpson and other characters
- Yeardley Smith: Lisa Simpson
- Harry Shearer: Mr. Burns, Principal Skinner, and other characters
- Hank Azaria: Moe, Apu, Chief Wiggum, and other characters
What was the cast paid in Season 1?
Season 1 aired in 1989–90, but the available reporting does not establish a separately verified Season 1 rate for each performer. The earliest figure in this comparison comes from a 1998 Independent report: it said cast members described their original fee as $25,000 per episode. That is an attributed recollection, not a confirmed Season 1 payroll record or proof that every actor received the same amount. The Independent’s 1998 report also described a later pay negotiation.
How did reported per-episode pay change?
These reports chart selected negotiations, not a continuous salary history. Their figures refer to particular moments and should not be read as each performer’s annual income, total career earnings, or present salary.
| Period | Reported figure | What the report establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Original fee, as described in 1998 | $25,000 per episode | The Independent said cast members described this as their original fee. It does not verify an individual Season 1 contract. |
| 1998 negotiation | $50,000 per episode and a $1 million bonus | The Independent reported the negotiated salary and bonus; these are dated negotiation figures, not lifetime earnings. |
| 2011 negotiation | A requested reduction from a reported $440,000 to $250,000 per episode | TheWrap attributed the proposed reduction to people familiar with the talks. It was a reported negotiation, not a verified current salary. |
Sources: The Independent (1998) and TheWrap (2011). The later 2011 report gives a useful contrast with the early figures, but it does not establish what any actor was ultimately paid after negotiations.
What are the six actors worth now?
There is no reliable, comparable set of public net-worth figures for these six performers in the cited material. Celebrity-finance rankings circulate estimates, but the sources reviewed do not establish a consistent method, primary financial records, or a shared definition of net worth. Private wealth is not the same as reported salary, and it is not verified by a salary negotiation.
Rank #2
- Factory sealed DVD
A September 2026 entertainment feature repeats a $400,000-per-episode peak figure and a commonly circulated $30,000 early-pay claim. Those secondary figures are not reconciled in the available reporting with the 1998 account of a $25,000 original fee or TheWrap’s 2011 negotiation report. They should not be treated as a settled pay record. The September 2026 feature is also not a verified source for the performers’ personal net worth.
An archived 2001 interview describes Dan Castellaneta’s financial success after the show, but supplies no verifiable wealth total. It therefore cannot support a dollar estimate or a ranking. The archived interview offers context, not an audited figure.
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Rank #3
- Condition: New
- Format: DVD
- Animated; Box set; Closed-captioned; Color; DVD; Full Screen; NTSC
Why salary reports cannot answer a net-worth ranking
Per-episode pay is only one part of a person’s finances. These reports do not establish how many episodes each performer was paid for at a particular rate, nor do they document taxes, representation costs, other work, investments, spending, or assets and liabilities. Even a long career and high reported episode fees cannot establish an individual’s present net worth.
The show’s scale helps explain why the cast’s pay history draws attention: the Associated Press marked its 800th episode in February 2026. Executive producer and former showrunner Al Jean told AP, “We’ve done 800 episodes, and I’m really glad we didn’t do a big overarching story.” He added, “You always return to square one at the end of the show. And there’s no question that was a big influence on the longevity.” That milestone describes the series’ run, not each actor’s compensation or wealth. The Associated Press report
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