Full House Star Jodie Sweetin Reveals Surprising Residual Pay
Jodie Sweetin, best known for her role as Stephanie Tanner on the iconic sitcom Full House, recently opened up about the unexpected nature of her residual pay. The 44-year-old actress, who also appeared in the Netflix sequel Fuller House, shared a surprising story about receiving a one-cent check from the show’s residuals.
During an appearance on The McBride Rewind podcast, Sweetin revealed that she had just received a one-cent payment, which she found shocking. She explained that the reason for this minimal payout is due to the shift from traditional syndication to streaming platforms. “There’s no syndication anymore because it’s all in streaming. Who gets paid for that? Nobody gets paid for that,” she said.
Sweetin also noted that the residual payments from Full House are not what many people assume. While she did receive money during her 20s, it was never consistent. “You don’t know how much it’s going to be or how often they’re going to run the show,” she added. This inconsistency made it hard to rely on the income, and she admitted that she doesn’t live an extravagant life.
“I’m like, ‘Honey, I drive my 2023 used Hyundai Sonata that I love. I rent my house. I have credit cards that are maxed out.’ I live a normal life,” Sweetin said. She also mentioned that there are times when she needs a day job. “And yeah, there are moments when you’re like, ‘This is going well.’ And there are times when you’re like, ‘I need a day job.’”
A Legacy of Laughter and Residuals
The original Full House cast included John Stamos, the late Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, Candace Cameron Bure, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Lori Loughlin, and Andrea Barber. The sitcom aired for eight seasons from 1987 to 1995 and followed a widower (Saget) raising his three daughters with his brother-in-law (Stamos) and close friend (Coulier).
A sequel, Fuller House, was released on Netflix in 2016 and ran until 2020. Most of the original cast returned, though Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were notably absent.
During the podcast, Sweetin was asked if she has plans to return to the Full House world again. “Oh, we always joke that it’ll be ‘Fuller Fullest House’ and we’ll just be ancient and the kids will be wiping our a**es,” she joked. However, she added that she would never say never to anything. “And you know, if I got to come back in another 20 years and work with these people again, who I’ve known for my entire life, yeah, I would totally do that.”
The Enduring Impact of Full House
Sweetin reflected on the impact the sitcom has had on viewers over the years. “I love what Full House has done, and I love what it has created. I love what it means to people,” she said. As she grew older and experienced more of life, she came to understand the significance of having something that connects you to your younger self.
“And I know that Full House does that so, I’m thrilled to continue to do that in whatever way I can,” she added.
Friends Cast Earns $20 Million Annually in Residuals
In a separate but related revelation, Lisa Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay on Friends, shocked fans by revealing that she and her co-stars still earn a staggering $20 million annually in residuals. The show, which ran for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004, saw its cast negotiate their salaries together, which increased dramatically over the years.
By the final two seasons, each actor was earning $1 million per episode. They later reunited for a one-off special on HBO Max in 2021, reportedly earning $2.5 million each for the nostalgic return.
However, Kudrow emphasized that the real financial success comes from the show’s global syndication. “It’s not just the one-off specials; it’s the steady stream of income,” she said.
Kudrow also reflected on the enduring legacy of Friends, especially after the passing of Matthew Perry in 2023. “After Matthew died, I watched the show again. Before, I only saw what I did wrong or could have done better, but for the first time I truly appreciated just how great it was,” she said. She praised the talent of her co-stars, calling them “geniuses” and expressing that the show’s success would be hard to replicate.
