Friends creator Marta Kauffman admits $1 million per episode check Aniston, Cox, Kudrow, Perry, LeBlanc and Schwimmer each got was 'ridiculous'

Published: 20:53 EST, 30 July 2015 | Updated: 22:11 EST, 30 July 2015

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By the early 2000s, the cast of NBC’s hit show Friends famously negotiated their way to $1 million per episode, per person payday.

Despite the show’s immense popularity, even the show’s co-creator Marta Kauffman has now called those figures ‘ridiculous.’

The Wrap reported on Thursday that during a Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour panel, Kauffman said: ‘A million dollars an episode is kinda ridiculous. Let’s be honest, that’s a lot of money.’

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Even she was stunned: Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman called Friends' $1 million per episode, per actor paycheck 'ridiculous' during a panel at the Beverly Hilton on Tuesday

Humble beginnings: When Friends began in 1994, the cast only made $22,500 per episode; that was before the show became a cultural phenomenon

Currently spearheading Netflix’s Grace And Frankie, Kauffman appeared at the Beverly Hilton Tuesday with other showrunners from the online streaming service.

The conversation turned to Friends when Kauffman was asked about the differences between her former involvement in network TV and her current position in online streaming.

‘Not everybody is going to get a million dollars an episode,’ Kauffman said. ‘There’s something unrealistic about it. So I think actually what we’re all doing [now] is actually more reasonable and makes more sense.’

Pricey cast: By the early 2000s, Friends cast members - Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer - were making $1 million per episode

When Friends began in 1994, the six-member cast – Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer – each made $22,500 per episode.

But as the show rose to the status of cultural phenomenon, the cast began demanding higher pay.

By the ninth and tenth seasons, premiering in 2002 and 2003 respectively, the six stars were making $1 million per episode.

Moved on: Kauffman has since moved on from network TV, spearheading Netflix's Grace And Frankie; the showrunner is seen here at a Los Angeles screening of her new show in May

Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin star in Netflix comedy Grace and Frankie

Discussing the rise of streaming programs versus network TV, Kauffman continued: ‘It’s such a different situation, because ratings are connected to advertisers.’

‘There are no advertisers on Netflix. And I think you’re hoping that I’ll say “It’s frustrating” but the truth is, it’s wonderful, because there’s only one thing we’re doing — we’re not pandering to advertisers, we’re not pandering to a network, all we’re doing is making the show we want and that we believe in.’

As hinted at by Kauffman, the era of over six figure per episode paychecks is fading away.

Now the sitcom veteran has taken her talents to Netflix with the new hit series Grace And Frankie.

The show, which stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, has been renewed by Netflix with a second season premiering in 2016.