HERE ARE THE TOP 5 SHOWRUNNERS IN 2024
Creating a smash hit series like South Park, Law & Order, or The Big Bang Theory has always been a ticket to fortune. But even in today’s fractured TV world, a new generation of producers is cashing in by making shows designed to live on forever in reruns.
Back in the heyday of the “streaming wars,” studios and tech companies were in an all-out race to win over subscribers. Low interest rates and Wall Street's optimism fueled this frenzy, leading to over 500 scripted shows hitting the airwaves at the peak. For the lucky few whose shows resonated with audiences, the paydays were massive. At least a dozen showrunners snagged nine-figure deals, while others walked away with $50 million-plus over four- or five-year contracts.
Fast forward to today, and it’s a very different story. The COVID-19 pandemic, two Hollywood strikes, and widespread budget cuts across media companies have put a damper on the once-lucrative deals for showrunners. Many of those mega-contracts are expiring, and the landscape for TV production has shifted dramatically.
As we gear up for the 2024 Emmys, the biggest prize for many winners will be those shiny gold statues—not the fat paychecks of yesteryear.
That said, a handful of veteran showrunners are still defying the odds. These legends of the industry—like South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, The Simpsons masterminds James L. Brooks and Matt Groening, and Law & Order kingpin Dick Wolf—are raking in over $100 million annually from their mega-hits. Shows like The Simpsons and The Big Bang Theory continue to churn out huge profits, cementing their creators as TV royalty.
Let’s not forget the creators who have built entire empires. Tyler Perry is one of the most notable examples, running his massive Tyler Perry Studios and controlling the rights to all of his content. Perry’s shows and films air across platforms like BET, Amazon, and Netflix, and his back catalog, including the beloved Madea franchise, generates millions in revenue.
These veteran producers are often running entire mini-universes of content, overseeing multiple projects across platforms. The likes of Ryan Murphy (American Horror Story) and Taylor Sheridan (Yellowstone) still command hefty sums, thanks to their reputation for turning out hit after hit. But it’s the older generation who continues to dominate, with few showrunners under 50 cracking the top ranks of earners.
The younger crop of creators is facing a different reality. For them, even with a hit show, deals rarely top $10 million, and per-episode fees are tightly controlled. While they bring much-needed diversity to the industry in terms of race, gender, and orientation, breaking into the upper echelon of TV earnings is a steep climb.
Still, the tides of Hollywood can turn quickly, and the Emmys could be the launchpad for the next wave of super-producers. As it stands, these are the heavyweights who continue to shape the landscape of TV:
1. Matt Stone & Trey Parker – $162 million
The South Park creators are still on top, thanks to their massive $935 million deal with ViacomCBS. While production on South Park is on pause until after the 2024 election, their hit musical The Book of Mormon is still going strong in theaters across the globe.
2. Tyler Perry – $136 million
Perry’s motto is simple: “Ownership changes everything.” From his sprawling 330-acre studio in Atlanta, he produces and owns the rights to all his content. His shows continue to dominate BET, and he’s making waves with films on Netflix and Amazon.
3. James L. Brooks & Matt Groening – $135 million
After 35 years and 750 episodes, The Simpsons keeps rolling, and so do the profits. The show's deal with Disney+ has been particularly lucrative, bringing in over $1 billion since 2019. Brooks and Groening also benefit from Futurama's return to Hulu.
4. Dick Wolf – $124 million
Wolf’s empire of procedurals (Law & Order, Chicago, and FBI) continues to anchor network lineups. Even though the Hollywood strikes hit his shows hard, Wolf’s position as a TV billionaire remains solid.
5. Chuck Lorre – $110 million
With hits like Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory still generating massive revenues, Lorre remains a powerful force. Although he wrapped up several shows this year, he’s far from done, with new projects lined up for CBS and Max.
And the list goes on, with heavy hitters like Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy) and Shonda Rhimes (Bridgerton) continuing to prove that great content—and smart business deals—pay off in a big way.
Hollywood fortunes may come and go, but for these showrunners, the hits just keep on coming.
