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The Big Bang Theory has been reported to generate more than $1 billion in syndication revenue for Warner Bros. Television—but that is a cumulative milestone, not a verified $1 billion-per-year figure. Actor Kevin Sussman has criticized how streaming changed residuals for his shows, but he has not publicly disclosed the amount of his own Big Bang Theory residual payments.
What the reported $1 billion figure means
A 2019 Los Angeles Times report said the show’s syndication revenue had reportedly generated more than $1 billion for Warner Bros. Television. The report did not describe that sum as annual revenue, and it does not establish how much the show currently earns each year from syndication. The Los Angeles Times report also distinguished this studio revenue from the show’s broadcast advertising: CBS was estimated to bring in $125 million to $150 million in advertising revenue per season.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series (DVD) | $74.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Big Bang Theory: Seasons 7-12 | $49.01 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Big Bang Theory: Season 1-6 (6PK/DVD) | $50.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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The Big Bang Theory: The Twelfth and Final Season | $12.91 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Big Bang Theory: S1 (DVD) | $9.99 | Buy on Amazon |
These figures refer to different revenue streams and recipients. CBS’s advertising revenue came from selling ads around the broadcast; the reported syndication total accrued to Warner Bros. Television through licensing the show for reruns. Neither figure is a measure of what an individual actor received.
Why the “$1 billion per year” claim is not established
A later SlashFilm article discussed a calculation that could produce a $1 billion-per-year figure under a specific hypothetical: three lead actors receiving an alleged one-percent share. That scenario is not verified annual revenue, a confirmed residual formula, or evidence of what supporting actors were paid. The article also says exact per-airing checks for the main cast have not been publicly revealed. SlashFilm’s account of cast rerun earnings therefore cannot establish a reliable annual total for the show or a specific payment to Sussman.
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What Kevin Sussman said about streaming residuals
In a 2024 article, SlashFilm relayed remarks Sussman made in a Deadline interview during the 2023 actors’ and writers’ strikes. He said, “I’ve seen residuals for my own shows absolutely tank once they go to streaming.” About The Big Bang Theory moving to streaming services such as Max and Amazon Prime, he said, “Since it moved to streaming [like Max and Amazon Prime], it’s night and day.”
Those remarks describe his criticism of the change in residual economics. They do not state the amount of his personal Big Bang Theory residuals, disclose his contract terms, or establish that every supporting cast member has the same arrangement.
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Why streaming and traditional syndication can pay differently
Traditional syndication and streaming are different distribution models, and a show’s revenue is not the same thing as an actor’s residual. In a TIME interview during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, union president Fran Drescher described traditional syndication as creating “a long tail of revenue upon which residuals were based,” and contrasted that model with streaming’s lower transparency. Her interview with TIME provides industry context, not a calculation of Sussman’s deal or a formula for the show’s cast.
Public estimates about a program’s licensing revenue, hypothetical percentage calculations, and performers’ private residual payments should not be treated as interchangeable. The sources cited here do not establish Sussman’s exact formula or payment amount, or the show’s current annual syndication revenue.
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