As a wildly popular ‘90s sitcom, Full House launched the careers of several child actors. But it was Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen as Michelle Tanner who earned the most from the show‘s 8 season run and grew their wealth most afterward. Let‘s break down the salaries, net worths, and careers of the main cast members.
The adorable Olsen twins started out earning just $2,400 per episode. But by the final season in 1995 when they were 9 years old, their pay skyrocketed to $80,000 per episode – adding up to $1.92 million for the 24 episode season!
According to reports, their co-star Jodie Sweetin as Stephanie Tanner also earned up to $40,000 per episode by the end. That likely makes them the highest paid child stars on television at the time.
Salaries and Net Worths of the Main Cast:
| Actor | Role | Salary per Episode | Net Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mary Kate & Ashley Olsen | Michelle Tanner | $80,000 | $500 million |
| Bob Saget | Danny Tanner | $100,000-$150,000 | $100 million |
| John Stamos | Jesse Katsopolis | $100,000-$150,000 | $25 million |
| Jodie Sweetin | Stephanie Tanner | $40,000 | $2 million |
| Candace Cameron | DJ Tanner | $40,000-$50,000 | $14 million |
| Dave Coulier | Joey Gladstone | $100,000-$150,000 | $10 million |
| Lori Loughlin | Rebecca Donaldson | $100,000-$150,000 | $10 million |
| Andrea Barber | Kimmy Gibler | – | $2 million |
| Blake McIver Ewing | Derek S. | – | $600,000 |
But how did their incomes grow over the seasons? Here is an estimate of the cast‘s earnings per episode by season:
| Season | Olsen Twins | Bob Saget | John Stamos | Jodie Sweetin | Candace Cameron |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,400 | $60,000 | $60,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| 2 | $5,000 | $80,000 | $80,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 |
| 3 | $10,000 | $100,000 | $100,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| 4 | $15,000 | $125,000 | $125,000 | $25,000 | $30,000 |
| 5 | $25,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $30,000 | $35,000 |
| 6 | $40,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $35,000 | $40,000 |
| 7 | $60,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $35,000 | $40,000 |
| 8 | $80,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 |
It‘s clear that while the adult stars like Bob Saget and John Stamos commanded six-figure paydays from the start, the young actors‘ salaries rose meteorically. The Olsens in particular saw their pay increase by over 3000% from seasons 1 to 8!
Building a Media Empire and Amassing Greater Wealth
But it‘s what the Olsen twins did after the show ended that allowed them to amass a shared net worth over $500 million – making them the richest cast members by far.
Through their production company Dualstar Entertainment, they built a vast entertainment and merchandising empire in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. This included movies, books, magazines, video games, dolls, fragrances, clothes, and more. Their fashion labels like The Row and Elizabeth & James also became highly successful.
While the young actors earned millions from Full House itself, it was their ability to leverage that fame into lucrative business ventures that made the Olsen twins truly wealthy.
Behind the Scenes: Controversies and Negotiations
Of course, it wasn‘t all smooth sailing behind the scenes. There were ongoing negotiations and even controversies:
As a 1-year old, one report said Mary Kate cried for hours when taping, while Ashley smiled and laughed [1]. Crew members doubted they could continue working with twins.
By season 4, with the show a huge hit, John Stamos advocated for the cast to receive big raises [1].
See AlsoWhat is Ashley Olsen's Net Worth in 2024: Deep Dive into Her Career, Income, and Financial Journey - HANOI UNIVERSITY OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGYHow the 15 Richest Actors in the World Built Their Astonishing Net WorthsAshley Olsen - Age, Sister & MoviesThe Olsen Twins Just Turned 37 And Yes, Their Net Worth Is Way Greater Than YoursProducers only wanted to keep one twin, Mary Kate, for easier filming. But Stamos said he would quit if they fired Ashley [2]!
There were rumors of jealousy between the Olsens and Sweetin as the young Michelle became the fan favorite [3].
Lori Loughlin was fired after season 7 due to salary disputes, but returned for the 8th season after agreeing to a pay cut [4].
Saget‘s off-color comedy led to controversies after Full House ended [5].
[2] https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/full-house-why-mary-kate-and-ashley-olsen-almost-left-the-show-during-season-4.html/[3] https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/full-house-candace-cameron-bure-said-there-was-jealousy-between-jodie-sweetin-and-the-olsen-twins.html/[4] https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/full-house-why-lori-loughlin-was-fired-after-season-7-then-brought-back-for-season-8.html/ [5] https://people.com/tv/bob-saget-defends-himself-against-criticism-for-inappropriate-jokes-dark-comedy/
While there was drama behind the scenes, the young actors also built lifelong bonds. The cast has described feeling like a real family and maintain close friendships today.
Where Are They Now? Cast Members‘ Later Careers
So where did the prominent child stars and family-friendly actors go after Full House ended?
While Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen retreated from acting into fashion and business, many other cast members stayed in television.
Bob Saget became known for his adult stand-up comedy and hosting America‘s Funniest Home Videos. He also narrated the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother from 2005-2014.
John Stamos starred on the medical drama ER from 2006-2009 and the dark comedy series Scream Queens from 2015-2016. He also performs music with The Beach Boys.
Candace Cameron Bure acted in TV movies and the Aurora Teagarden Mystery series. She competed on Dancing with the Stars and became a Hallmark Channel star.
Jodie Sweetin overcame addiction issues to star on shows like Hollywood Darlings. She also returned as Stephanie Tanner in 2016‘s Fuller House revival series on Netflix.
Andrea Barber left acting after Full House but returned as Kimmy Gibbler in Fuller House.
Even as adults, most of the prominent child actors maintained public-friendly Hollywood careers – with a few exceptions like the Olsens retreating from fame.
Why Was Full House so Wildly Successful?
During a competitive era with hits like The Cosby Show, Roseanne, and Cheers, why did Full House become so massively popular?
Several key factors contributed to its success and enduring popularity:
Cute kids – From Michelle‘s "How rude!" to Stephanie‘s catchphrases, the young characters stole America‘s hearts
Family-friendly humor – The show provided wholesome entertainment parents could enjoy with kids
Heartwarming life lessons – Each episode provided teachable moments and feel-good resolutions
The death of Danny‘s wife – This tragic backstory provided emotional depth many sitcoms lacked
Comfort viewing – Even today, the show provides nostalgic, comforting viewing for millennials
Streaming popularity – On Netflix, it found a new generation of viewers, including families bonding over their childhood favorite
While critics found it cheesy, millions of viewers were drawn to the cute child stars, hijinks, and heartwarming humor over 8 seasons and beyond.
Conclusion: The Olsen Twins Earned Far More Than Just Childhood Fame
In summary, while the adult stars like Bob Saget commanded six-figure paychecks, it was twin tycoons Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen who earned the most from the show through massive salaries and after the show by leveraging their fame shrewdly. Their ability to build a merchandise empire and thriving fashion brands well beyond their Michelle Tanner days makes them the clear financial winners.
But the rest of the cast also benefited tremendously from Full House, whether through lucrative episode fees, residuals, or fame that bolstered their later careers. By balancing family-friendly humor, cute kids, and schmaltzy life lessons, the show itself became a wildly successful cultural phenomenon as well.
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