Ray Romano Spent His Everybody Loves Raymond Royalties To Cure His Life-Threatening Conditions

Summary

• Ray Romano's significant net worth is largely due to the residuals he receives from Everybody Loves Raymond.
• Romano's salary on the show sparked disputes.
• Romano suffered from numerous health issues.

A significant portion of Ray Romano's $200 million net worth is attributed to the cash flow on annual residuals he receives from the hit sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Romano's salary on the show sparked protests among his cast members, who had to negotiate for fair compensation.

Apart from the disputes on the show, Romano opened up about the real-life struggles of the characters in Everybody Loves Raymond in an interview and how his insane salary almost destroyed his television career.

How Much Does Ray Romano Receive In Everybody Loves Raymond Royalties?

Ray Romano's exact earnings from the first four seasons of Everybody Loves Raymond remain undisclosed, but some reports estimated that Romano earned around $300,000 per episode, accumulating a total of $30 million over four seasons.

With the show's popularity soaring, Romano's salary also increased. His earnings for each episode in seasons five through seven reached $800,000.

By 2003, Everybody Loves Raymond had reached its peak of popularity, and Romano signed a new contract. This groundbreaking deal guaranteed Romano a salary of $50 million for the show's eighth season and secured his position as "the highest-paid actor on TV."

Almost three decades since Everybody Loves Raymond first aired in 1996, Romano's hard work on the show continues to generate a substantial income. According to CheatSheet, Romano rakes in $18 million annually for the sitcom, with the majority of his yearly earnings stemming from the syndication of this long-running CBS classic. As long as the sitcom remains in syndication, Romano enjoys a passive income totaling millions of dollars per residual cycle.

How Much Ray Romano Spends On The Treatment Of His Health Problems?

Ray Romano shared in an interview on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast that he had undergone a heart procedure upon discovering that his main heart artery was 90% blocked. Romano also mentioned that his cholesterol had been elevated for two decades, but he consistently resisted taking statins despite doctors' recommendations.

According to New Choice Health, the average cost of a cardiac stent procedure in the United States ranges from $29,300 to $80,400, whether or not you are insured.

Romano admitted that once his healthier diet managed to lower his cholesterol, he would revert to less healthy eating habits, thinking he was invincible. He is presently on statins to regulate his cholesterol levels and has been pleased with the results. Romano revealed on the podcast:

"Because I'm on the meds, my cholesterol dropped right away… I know in my head I don't feel that old. In my body, I'm getting a couple of notices that I am that old."

Elevated levels of cholesterol heighten the risk of a heart attack or stroke due to artery blockage. Statins are a category of medications that function by inhibiting the liver's cholesterol production and eliminating cholesterol from the bloodstream.

Various Statins available in the US per WebMD:

• Atorvastatin (Lipitor) - $8.25 with a coupon (or $2.48 with a typical 30% insurance copay)
• Fluvastatin (Lescol, Lescol XL) - $43.10 ($12.93 copay).
• Lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor) - $5.32 ($1.60 copay)
• Pitavastatin (Livalo, Zypitamag) - $237.15 ($71.15 copay)
• Pravastatin (Pravachol) - $8.21 ($2.46 copay)
• Rosuvastatin (Crestor) - $10.15 ($3.05 copay)
• Simvastatin (Zocor) - $4 price ($1.20 copay)

Romano also revealed to Entertainment Tonight that he consulted his cardiologist due to chest pains experienced while directing and starring in his 2022 film, Somewhere in Queens. "I called my agent at one in the morning because I couldn't sleep. I go, 'I can't do it, can't do this.'" This led him to undergo a stress test on the treadmill at his cardiologist's office.

A cardiovascular stress test, incorporating exercise and the measurement of the heart's electrical activity, serves as a procedure to assess the heart's structure and stress levels, and identify any potential abnormalities in its health.

How Much Did Ray Romano Earn From His Other Movies And Television Shows?

Ray Romano showcased his knowledge and philanthropy on a 2000 episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, where he secured $125,000 for the NYPD's D.A.R.E. unit.

Romano has played one of the main characters in the Ice Age franchise since its inception in 2002. He lent his voice to Manny the Mammoth throughout all five installments. Some reports estimated that Romano's earnings for the initial Ice Age film amounted to $5 million.

Ray Romano's Accolades:

• CableACE Awards - 1995
• Viewers for Quality Television Awards - 1999 to 2000
• American Comedy Awards - 2000
• TV Guide Awards - 2001
• People's Choice Awards - 2002 to 2004
• Primetime Emmy Awards (as actor and producer)
• SAG-AFTRA Awards - 2003

However, in a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Romano reflected on the impact of his huge salary from Everybody Loves Raymond on his career. After the show concluded, Romano faced challenges with securing new TV gigs, especially in dramas, as his agent aimed to maintain his peak salary level.

Romano reached out to Jason Katims during his struggle to break into television. He told Katims his interest in the show Parenthood and, despite initially being told they couldn't afford him, Romano accepted a role on the show for considerably less pay than in his Everybody Loves Raymond days. Romano told The Hollywood Reporter:

"... I got three seasons of Parenthood, and it got people to see me differently… It's opening up a little, though. I'm not just getting comedic things and broad things. I think I've aged into this area where now I'm playing the father of the 30-year-old… A little bit more is coming my way than 10 years ago. But I'm kind of accepting that if a great role comes along, it's not necessarily going to be the lead. And that's OK. I'll write my own movie for that. We're trying to write another one now."

Romano emphasized that not worrying about money after Everybody Loves Raymond allowed him to take on diverse roles. His sitcom success provided financial stability, enabling him to explore less lucrative but artistically rewarding projects like HBO's Vinyl, The Big Sick, and Martin Scorsese's The Irishman.