She might have made her debut in acting, but for a long time, Selena Gomez was only focused on her music. After Wizards of Waverly Place, Selena busted out with music that had fans hooked and only evolved to become even better over time. With her health issues, ex-boyfriend drama, and everything else going on in her life, fans were thankful to get new music (and some fire collaborations) every once in a while.
Fast-forward to 2021, and Selena Gomez made her debut on Hulu with Only Murders in the Building alongside an unlikely cast that includes Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Meryl Streep, among others. As thrilled as fans were to see Selena on the small screen again as Mabel Mora, they wondered how the gig came about. It seemed like a random show with a random cast, but it turned out Selena's gig on Only Murders in the Building would be a boon for Hulu—and earn its cast members quite a hefty salary, too.
How Much Does Selena Gomez Make On 'Only Murders In The Building'?
The short answer is that Selena Gomez's salary for Only Murders in the Building is not exactly known. However, there are many educated guesses out there that help narrow it down.
First off, some sources incorrectly report that Selena made $600 million per episode of Only Murders, which is clearly an over-exaggeration (or a simple typo). Given that Selena's net worth was $75 million in 2021, and is now hovering around $85-$95 million as of 2023, the salary figure is likely in the lower millions per season.
Yet the more reasonable salary guesstimate for Selena's acting work is still super high. Both Steve Martin and Martin Short are said to be raking in $600,000 per episode of Only Murders in the Building, giving credence to the theory that many sources are quoting that figure.
However, there are other financial factors at play that could mean Selena Gomez's salary for Only Murders is even higher than Steve or Martin's.
First, Steve Martin acts in the show but is also a co-creator. He is likely earning residuals on the back end of the series, both for his hand in creating and writing the show. Martin Short and Selena Gomez don't appear to have any producing, writing, or other credit beyond acting.
Does Selena Gomez Make The Same Amount As Steve Martin And Martin Short?
As the only other character who has, thus far, appeared in every episode alongside Steve and Martin, it would make sense if they offered the singer a higher per-episode fee. After all, Selena's star power likely helped the show become popular, even if that Selena-Cara Delevingne kiss was a super awkward scene.
Then again, there's also the possibility that Selena accepted a lower-than-usual fee because she thought the show was "brilliant." As a true crime fan herself, Selena knew when the opportunity presented itself that she would say yes to Only Murders in the Building, especially because "Steve and Marty are icons, legends."
Finally, like other shows that start a bit slower, it's possible that as the show progresses, its stars can receive a bump in pay. After two highly-reviewed seasons, Only Murders slated its third season to begin in August 2023, and there are no signs of the series slowing down.
Selena Gomez Usually Makes $15 Million (Or More) Per Year
Because Selena Gomez had not appeared in a similar sitcom before Only Murders, it's difficult to judge whether she would be paid more or less than previous projects.
Her last long-running series was Wizards of Waverly Place, which ended in 2012. For that gig, Selena reportedly made $30,000 per episode, bringing her total for the series to just over $3 million.
Selena's earnings for other projects shed some light on the relatively low earnings from Wizards; a two-year deal with Puma earned her $30 million, while she also nabbed $10 million for an endorsement deal with Coach back in 2016.
When it comes to social media, the most-followed celeb on the planet uses her Instagram to make more than a million dollars per post when working with big brands.
None of that means Selena tried to negotiate an even more massive salary for Only Murders in the Building, though. Her earnings seem more tied to her image and the value of her branding, rather than Selena simply demanding multiple millions per project.
And it's unlikely that anyone other than Martin and Short, and a true crime-themed series, could have landed Selena Gomez for a low-key acting gig that turned out to be just what fans wanted.
Selena also knows exactly the opportunity she was afforded, saying, "I’m not sure I have enough words to explain just how beautiful this season has been. It has been deliriously hilarious, challenging and for me, an absolute dream."
