‘The Big Bang Theory’ season 8: Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco seeking $500K per episode

The stars of hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory are seeking substantial pay rises.

THE BIG BANG THEORY Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Johnny Galecki (Leonard) and Kaley Cuoco (Penny), all currently earning $350,000 per episode, are seeking over $500,000, Deadline reports.

Deadline adds that Mayim Bialik (Amy) and Melissa Rauch (Bernadette), now regulars on Big Bang since fall 2010 have seen their salaries rise from the the $20,000-$30,000 range per episode into the neighborhood of $60,000, this coming season, with their pay steadily increasing every year to reach close to $100,000 an episode by the end of their contracts.

Over the next eight months, Big Bang faces license fee negotiations as the series is currently renewed by CBS through this season, as well as contract negotiations with the entire original cast, whose deals also are all up at the end of this season. With the series doing so well and eying a potential strong showing at the Emmys this weekend, none of these is going to be easy.

Big Bang is coming off its highest-rated season ever with a string of series highs.

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Stephen Nevets - Stephen is a contributor and writer on The Dispatch. Stephen is the founder and editor for the Steven Spielberg Fan Club website and contributes to pop culture stories on The Dispatch, especially upcoming movie news. Beginning in 2016, Stephen took the role of Managing Editor for the Tampa Dispatch.