19 Top Richest Soap Opera Stars
Getting paid well in Hollywood isn't easy for newcomers. As an "unknown" in daytime soaps, this is especially true. The SAG-AFTRA rate sheets show that actors with fewer than five lines can expect to make $450 to $500, while those with more than five lines can make up to $1,000. An episode's worth of background actors can expect to make $200.
An average day of work like that is fine, but the work isn't. An actor's $1,000 salary may have to stretch for weeks before another one is obtained because acting is not typically a full-time career.
Soap opera actors who have established themselves in the industry may be paid a certain amount per episode. And if you've established yourself as a regular on the show, you'll certainly command a bigger salary.
A paycheck is calculated using a variety of parameters. Actors' days on set, the number of lines they have to deliver, and storyline length go into this ultimate sum.
New actors may only land one or two days of employment per week instead of the one to three days that veteran performers are guaranteed. Alternatively, they may not be required at all in other instances. Because of this, it cannot be easy to establish a reliable source of income, especially for individuals who are just beginning out.
Erik Estrada
One of the "10 Sexiest Bachelors in the World" in People magazine in 1979, Erik Estrada has had a varied acting career. The telenovela "Two ladies, one road" (or "Dos Mujeres, un Camino") was one of the major parts of it, which began in 1970 and exploded with CHiPs in 1977.
Estrada received a salary of one million pesos for his appearance on the show. Johnny, the role he played, was a seductive truck driver from Tijuana. Even though Estrada could not speak Spanish, it became the most popular telenovela in Latin American history and lasted more than 200 episodes. His sex appeal is enough to earn him a $4 million fortune.
Alison Sweeney
There'd be no Sami Brady on "Days of Our Lives" without Alison Sweeney, who plays the drama queen. It's been more than three decades since Sweeney's first episode aired, yet she still finds time to do other things.
In addition to her work as an author and brand ambassador, she has also appeared in numerous films and television shows. Several possibilities include time travel, a secret clone, or an alternate dimension where a day is longer than 24 hours. Her 9 million dollar accomplishment can only be explained in these terms.
Catherine Bach
Catherine Bach, who played Miss Daisy Duke in "The Dukes of Hazzard," passed away at the age of 89. Others may recognize the actress from her role as Anita Lawson on "The Young and the Restless" for the past seven years.
Ten million dollars is a lot of money for someone who has been in the business for more than 40 years. Is it possible that she's now 66 years old? I'm in awe of her beauty. Her net worth could rise much higher if she reveals her secret to looking so nice.
Tyler Christopher
Tyler as a result of his on-again, off-again connection with soaps, Christopher has a net worth of $7 million, making him one of the most successful soap stars of all time.
It all began in 1996 when he was cast on "General Hospital" as Nikolas Cassiadine, and he's been hooked ever since. Since then, he's appeared on the show a few times, including as his counterpart — Connor Bishop — and a recurring character. Christopher was cast in a two-year role on "Days of Our Lives."
Susan Lucci
Susan Lucci comes to mind while thinking of soap operas. Erica Kane, played by Susan Lucci, was a favorite among "All My Children" viewers for many years (we're talking about 40 years now!).
It was Kane who made Lucci a soap opera hero. A wealthy individual amassed a fortune sufficient to support a small country. Having the capacity to cry on command and being the best soap villain in the business has made her a millionaire.
Charlotte Ross
It was in a little job that no one remembers that Charlotte Ross began her acting career back in 1986. As Eve Baron Donovan, she appeared on "Days of Our Lives" and will never be forgotten. Ross remained on the drama for four years and 157 episodes, making him the longest-serving cast member.
Her $10 million fortune is mostly due to her role on the show. The rest comes from her subsequent performances in NYPD Blue, The Heights, The 5 Mrs. Buchanans, etc. Her most recent role as Donna Smoak was on the television series "Arrow.". She's 52 years old and has only one child, whom she intends to treat lavishly.
Shemar Moore
Shemar Moore intends to stick around. Ask any of his past television appearances. TV and movie stars earn a lot of money, but they don't know when their next job will come. Moore is one of the few performers who can count on a consistent paycheck year after year due to his long-term commitments to television series. If you want to make $16 million, you need to pay attention and learn.
"Criminal Minds" fans may recognize him as Derek Morgan, a character he played for 12 years in 2005. However, he began his acting career in 1994 on "The Young and the Restless" as Malcolm Winters. He acted in this role intermittently till 2019! The majority of Hollywood couples aren't even close to that stable.
Erika Slezak
If you had an $8 million fortune and worked as an actor since the early 1970s, you would expect to have a few dozen acting credits under your belt. Though she's established herself as a brilliant actor, Slezak's filmography doesn't reflect her popularity.
A look at IMDB reveals that she's only been in 7 films, but that doesn't mean anything. Her role on One Life to Live as Victoria Lord offers her more screen time than any other TV celebrity. During her 42-year run in the role, she earned six Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
Steve Burton
Steve Burton's character Jason Morgan on "General Hospital" became virtually a household name. Burton has been playing the same character for over a decade, and it's a common side effect.
The Young and the Restless poached him for five years, and then he returned to 'General Hospital' in 2017 to reprise his role as Morgan. He is still portraying that role, as evidenced by his numerous accolades and $3 million in net worth.
David Hasselhoff
David Hasselhoff has it all:
- Blue eyes.
- A tan that never fades.
- Shoulders wide enough to land a helicopter on.
A soap show is bound to snatch you up when you've got it all.
The soap opera "The Young and the Restless" did take "The Hoff" away. If he ever decides to change careers, his existing wealth of $10 million would allow him to attend medical school.
Eric Braeden
More than 40 years after first setting foot in Genoa City, most of you will recognize Victor Newman from "The Young and the Restless" as the character he played.
From 1980 through 2020, he and his mustache have been on the soap opera, making him one of the highest-paid soap opera actors in the United States and maybe the world.
Anthony Geary
The longest-running American soap opera is "General Hospital." Thousands of programs have been aired, and almost every actor in the industry has appeared at least once. On the other hand, Anthony Geary is completely another animal.
One of the mainstays of the show is Geary. Thirty-seven years later, he's still playing Luke Spencer. That is a long time. Throughout that period, many people were born, many people died, and ten distinct iPhone models were released. An estimated $9 million was earned by Geary during this period.
Kristian Alfonso
On "Days of Our Lives," many characters have come and gone, yet none of them have held our attention. I Hope Williams Brady is what matters to us. Kristian Alfonso has appeared in almost 2,500 episodes of the show, spanning nearly four decades.
At the very least, it sounds like a great way to make a lot of money ($5.5 million) or become a person with multiple personalities. Alfonso's life was fortunate to have taken the first path.
Kelly Monaco
Kelly Monaco has a name that screams luxury, but she also has a net worth of $4 million to back it up. Her hard work has paid off in a big way (modeling, acting, reality TV, and more). However, a major part of Sam Morgan's efforts (or Sam McCall, depending on her marital status).
Since 2003, Monaco has played the role of Sam Morgan on "General Hospital." For approximately 2,000 episodes, the character and actress have been inseparable. "Port Charles" is like having to microwave some popcorn compared to her 305-episode run there.
Jacqueline Jossa
Six-figure salaries are nothing new for Jacqueline Jossa. Lauren Branning in "EastEnders" reportedly earned her such a sum of money during her show. Her net worth of $1.3 million grew during 12 years (2006-2018).
However, she isn't solely reliant on her acting career. Beyond performing, Instagram has become a source of income for Jossa. Sponsored Instagram posts are a lucrative business model for her, as they are for many other modern-day celebrities.
Michelle Keegan
On "Coronation Street," Michelle Keegan made her debut as Tina McIntyre, a bartender, in 2008. At the time, she was just 21 years old. It took Little Michelle six years and 861 episodes to mature and earn more than $60,000 a year.
Afterward, she starred in additional TV shows and worked with cosmetics companies like Revlon and Garnier. She now has a fortune of around $3 million. A sumptuous Essex property is where she and her husband (TV star Mark Write) spend their joint fortune. Jealous? Us? No way's going to happen.
Justin Hartley
You may recognize Justin Hartley's face but have a hard time identifying it because he has appeared on so many television shows ("Smallville," "Revenge," "This Is Us," and more). However, a $7 million net worth would not have been attainable for him if it weren't for his time on soap operas.
You might be surprised to learn that Hartley and his square jaw were around longer than you thought. He was cast as Fox Crane in "Passions" in 2002. His role as the show's on-set heartthrob lasted four years and 400 episodes. When "The Young and the Restless" came to an end in 2014, he returned for a second run on the soap that lasted until 2016.
Jordana Brewster
In 1995, Jordana Brewster made her acting and modeling debut on the soap opera "All My Children." Soap Opera Digest nominated her for Outstanding Teen Performance in 1997 for her role in "As the World Turns" as Nikki Munson.
Soap operas are largely responsible for Brewster's $12 million fortune. As for the rest, she may thank her role in the "Fast and the Furious" series for it all.
Kristoff St. John
Despite his tragic death in 2019, Kristoff St. John remains one of soap operas’ most recognizable faces. Neil Winters, on "The Young and the Restless," which he played from 1991 to 2019 and boosted his net worth to $6 million, is his most recognizable character.
In addition to 10 NAACP Image Awards, he has won two Emmys for his portrayal of the character. However, Adam Marshall, the character he played on "Generations" for three years, was not his first soap role.
