You want to see something even scarier?

Check out the PRIME-TIME minimums. They're, like, double and triple this.

Well, yeah, but you have to know that a writer might write only one episode in a season. So that would be $30,000. I'm talking about those lesser-known, beginner writers, of course. Not the hyphenates.

Well, yeah, but you have to know that a writer might write only one episode in a season. So that would be $30,000. I'm talking about those lesser-known, beginner writers, of course. Not the hyphenates.

Absolutely. I'm just saying it's not like these writers are guaranteed this amount of money every year for the rest of their lives.

I agree with everyone above me - it's all about money management. Otherwise, you WILL end up at Nordstrom's.

thats ridiculous. I never imagined a soap writer would make close to a million dollars. Thats more than soap actors. I figured maybe $200,000 tops

thats ridiculous. I never imagined a soap writer would make close to a million dollars. Thats more than soap actors. I figured maybe $200,000 tops

Well... I think that Bill Bell is the richest soap opera writer ever. And the cumulative Bell richness is Gargantuan.

Absolutely. I'm just saying it's not like these writers are guaranteed this amount of money every year for the rest of their lives.

Of course, the hyphenates in prime-time are much more "expensive": for example, Rob Thomas has an $8m deal, J. J. Abrams $50m... Somewhere in there are Tim Kring, Shonda Rhimes etc.

Then there are the film writers. Shane Black and M. Night Shyamalan share the top spot. At least, they used to.

I agree with everyone above me - it's all about money management. Otherwise, you WILL end up at Nordstrom's.

These people can't write, how can you expect them to manage their money wisely?!

Edited March 21, 200817 yr by Sylph

Well... I think that Bill Bell is the richest soap opera writer ever. And the cumulative Bell richness is Gargantuan.

The Bells are LOADED. But it isn't because of Bill's salary (which must have been HUGE) but rather because they own their shows and make a truckload of cash off of foreign airings (especially B&B, the most watched soap in the world). I remember reading a few years ago in V Life (a magazine Daily Variety tried to get off the ground) it was noted that Bill Jr and Maria Bell were spending 30 million on a beach house in Malibu and were paying cash. The Bells all live in the Platinum Triangle of Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Holmby Hills in assorted mansions.

The minimums are great...for the writers who are actually employed. The paycheck to paycheck argument was and is laughable. Note to Ms Alburger: pick up Suze Orman's book. It still might be free online, Women & Money, give it a spin. Dumbass.

I'm sure the upper level HW's like Alden, Broderick, Reilly, Smith, Guza have been making way more than these minimums for years. It's all about the production companies. SONY has never been cheap. P&G, well that's another story...you better believe Passante and Kreizman are thrilled with these minimums.

The Bells are LOADED. But it isn't because of Bill's salary (which must have been HUGE) but rather because they own their shows and make a truckload of cash off of foreign airings (especially B&B, the most watched soap in the world). I remember reading a few years ago in V Life (a magazine Daily Variety tried to get off the ground) it was noted that Bill Jr and Maria Bell were spending 30 million on a beach house in Malibu and were paying cash. The Bells all live in the Platinum Triangle of Beverly Hills, Bel Air and Holmby Hills in assorted mansions.

I was just about to write this! I know where they live. As I said in some other topic, Bill Bell Jr. and Maria Arena live in a Bel Air Wallace Neff (the architect who "invented" the Californian house look) mansion filled with art collector items. Brad and Colleen live in Holmby Hills. Theirs is a 15,000-square-foot mansion previously owned by Rod Stewart.

But I don't know where is that Howard Hughes' mansion Lee Phillip lives in.

I'm sure the upper level HW's like Alden, Broderick, Reilly, Smith, Guza have been making way more than these minimums for years. It's all about the production companies.

Sure, they made tens of millions. They all have great agents and years of experience in the business. And Kay Alden's husband is a Chicago millionaire. They regularly donate to charity, hospitals and universities, if I read correctly somewhere...

Edited March 22, 200817 yr by Sylph

I was just about to write this! I know where they live. As I said in some other topic, Bill Bell Jr. and Maria Arena live in a Bel Air Wallace Neff (the architect who "invented" the Californian house look) mansion filled with art collector items. Brad and Colleen live in Holmby Hills. Theirs is a 15,000-square-foot mansion previously owned by Rod Stewart.

But I don't know where is that Howard Hughes' mansion Lee Phillip lives in.

Sure, they made tens of millions. They all have great agents and years of experience in the business. And Kay Alden's husband is a Chicago millionaire. They regularly donate to charity, hospitals and universities, if I read correctly somewhere...

Lee Phillip Bell's house is in Beverly Hills, it was previously owned by Howard Hughes and Cary Grant & Dyan Cannon. Lauralee Bell also lives in Beverly Hills with her husband Scott Martin.

Yes, Kay's husband is rich and they seem to do a lot of good with their money.