In a bold move, acclaimed actress Taraji P. Henson sparked headlines in early January 2024 as she addressed the glaring pay disparity for Black women in Hollywood. Expressing her frustration, Henson even contemplated quitting acting following her show-stopping role in The Color Purple. This attracted the attention of the Power Universe co-creator Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson.
The Hip Hop artist, actor, and producer recently stirred the news by suggesting he would leverage Mary J. Blige’s salary from the Starz show Power Book II: Ghost to entice Henson to a high-paying project.
According to Express, Mary J. Blige, who stars as Monet Tejada in the Starz spinoff series, commands an impressive salary of up to $400,000 per episode. This substantial figure positions Blige as one of the highest-paid women on TV, highlighting the growing acknowledgment of equitable compensation.
In contrast, during her tenure as Cookie on Empire, Henson reportedly earned around $175,000 per episode. She has also spoken out about earning only $150,000 for her role in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, compared to Brad Pitt’s $10 million.
50 Cent’s Call for Equity
To address the wage gap, 50 Cent directly appealed to Henson via Instagram, revealing Mary J. Blige’s substantial compensation on Power. The rapper expressed his commitment to fair compensation, stating, “Someone called me today thinking I was bullsh!ting about working with @tarajiphenson till I told them what I made STARZ pay @therealmaryjblige to be on GHOST, I ain’t out here fvcking around. @bransoncognac @lecheminduroi“
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Highest-Paid Women on TV in History
So, who are the highest-paid women on TV? Sofía Vergara stands among the highest-paid women on TV, earning $500,000 per episode of Modern Family at its peak, according to Forbes. The iconic Friends trio—Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow—earned an astounding $1 million per episode towards the show’s conclusion.
Other notable high-earners include Kaley Cuoco for The Big Bang Theory and Ellen Pompeo for Grey’s Anatomy. Kerry Washington reportedly earned $250,000 per episode for her role in “Scandal,” while Angela Bassett commanded $450,000 per episode for “9-1-1.”
As of now, neither Mary J. Blige nor Taraji P. Henson has publicly commented on 50 Cent’s post. The episode highlights the ongoing challenges of achieving pay equity in Hollywood and the need for continued advocacy for fair compensation.
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