Modern Family Cast Salaries: Who Was the Highest-Paid Star?
In the world of television, salary negotiations often reflect a show's success and an actor's impact. For the beloved sitcom Modern Family, which aired for 11 seasons from 2009 to 2020, the cast's earnings evolved significantly, with Sofía Vergara emerging as the top earner. While her per-episode salary eventually matched other adult leads at $500,000, her endorsement deals and business ventures propelled her total income far beyond her co-stars, cementing her status as one of television's highest-paid actresses.
Ranking the Modern Family Cast by Salary
The cast of Modern Family saw their salaries increase steadily over the years, with younger members earning less than the adult leads. Here is a breakdown of the reported per-episode earnings in the final seasons, based on estimates from sources like Celebrity Net Worth, IMDb, and Forbes.
- Sofía Vergara — $500,000
- Ed O’Neill — $500,000
- Ty Burrell — $500,000
- Jesse Tyler Ferguson — $500,000
- Eric Stonestreet — $500,000
- Julie Bowen — $500,000
- Sarah Hyland — $125,000
- Ariel Winter — $125,000
- Rico Rodriguez — $125,000
- Nolan Gould — $125,000
Detailed Look at Top Earners
Sofía Vergara, who played Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, started with a salary of $30,000 to $65,000 per episode in the early seasons. By the final seasons, she negotiated a record $500,000 per episode, and her net worth is estimated at $180 million, boosted by endorsements and business ventures.
Ed O’Neill, portraying Jay Pritchett, began with $95,000 to $105,000 per episode, reflecting his prior fame. He later reached $500,000 per episode, with a net worth of $65 million.
Ty Burrell, as Phil Dunphy, started at $40,000 to $65,000 per episode and rose to $500,000, accumulating a net worth of $26 million.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitchell Pritchett) and Eric Stonestreet (Cameron Tucker) also climbed to $500,000 per episode, with net worths of $25 million and $22-25 million, respectively.
Julie Bowen (Claire Dunphy) similarly earned $500,000 in the final seasons, with a net worth of $18 million.
Younger Cast Members' Earnings
The younger actors, including Sarah Hyland, Ariel Winter, Rico Rodriguez, and Nolan Gould, each earned about $125,000 per episode in the final seasons. They started with salaries between $15,000 and $25,000 per episode, with net worths ranging from $12 million to $14 million.
Key Takeaways
- Sofía Vergara was the highest-paid cast member due to her role and endorsement deals.
- Adult leads earned around $500,000 per episode in later seasons.
- Younger cast members earned approximately $125,000 per episode by the show's end.
- Salaries grew significantly over the 11-season run, reflecting the show's popularity.
This analysis highlights how Modern Family's success translated into substantial financial rewards for its cast, with Vergara leading the pack through a combination of television earnings and off-screen ventures.
