Full House star Jodie Sweetin has revealed the surprisingly small residual payments she receives today, shortly after Lisa Kudrow shared that the cast of Friends still earns around $20 million a year.
The 44-year-old actress, who played Stephanie Tanner on the hit sitcom from 1987 to 1995, opened up about the topic during a recent appearance on The McBride Rewind podcast. Sweetin said the latest residual check she received totaled just one cent.
She explained that the television landscape has changed dramatically with the rise of streaming, saying syndication no longer brings in the same kind of payments performers once relied on. According to Sweetin, actors often see little return when older shows move to streaming platforms.
The actress added that while residual checks were better when she was younger, they were never consistent enough to depend on. Some payments were enough for a nice surprise, while others barely covered a dinner out.
Sweetin also shared that despite starring on a beloved sitcom, she lives a normal life rather than a lavish Hollywood lifestyle. She joked that she drives a used Hyundai Sonata, rents her home, and has maxed-out credit cards like many everyday people.
Alongside Sweetin, Full House featured stars including John Stamos, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, Candace Cameron Bure and Lori Loughlin. The series later returned as Fuller House on Netflix, with much of the original cast reprising their roles.
Sweetin said she would happily consider another revival in the future, joking that the next version could be called Fuller Fullest House. She also reflected on how much the original show means to fans, saying it connects many viewers to a comforting and nostalgic part of their childhood.
Her comments came soon after Lisa Kudrow revealed that she and her Friends co-stars still receive massive annual residuals thanks to the sitcom’s worldwide syndication success. While the two shows remain beloved classics, Sweetin’s story highlights just how different residual earnings can be depending on contracts and distribution deals.
