Jim Parsons reportedly turned down $50 million to get out of another Big Bang Theory season
The Big Bang Theory is imploding, and it's all Jim Parsons' fault.
On Wednesday, CBS announced its nerd-filled sitcom would end after 12 seasons. But not everyone was "drowning in tears" like star Kaley Cuoco claimed she was in an Instagram post, Entertainment Weekly has learned. CBS apparently offered the show's five original stars $50 million each to stay on for another two seasons, and Parsons turned it down.
The Big Bang Theory was already in preliminary talks to secure a 13th season, CBS president Kelly Kahl told reporters earlier this month. But even though The Big Bang Theory shot Parsons to fame, the actor was apparently ready to call it quits. As the show's star among stars, Parsons secured four Emmys and a Golden Globe playing Sheldon Cooper, and his portrayal of the prodigiously awkward physicist even extends to a voice-over on the spinoff Young Sheldon. He's also managed to balance leading roles on Broadway and in movies on top of it all.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
With a household name and dozens of credits under his belt, Parsons appears well-positioned for the post-Big Bang world. By the time things wrap, there will have been 279 episodes of The Big Bang Theory — and seeing as Parsons' salary has reportedly reached nearly $1 million for each episode, turning down a $50 million bonus was probably easier than you'd think.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Political cartoons for January 4Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include a resolution to learn a new language, and new names in Hades and on battleships
-
The ultimate films of 2025 by genreThe Week Recommends From comedies to thrillers, documentaries to animations, 2025 featured some unforgettable film moments
-
Political cartoons for January 3Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include citizen journalists, self-reflective AI, and Donald Trump's transparency
-
TikTok secures deal to remain in USSpeed Read ByteDance will form a US version of the popular video-sharing platform
-
Unemployment rate ticks up amid fall job lossesSpeed Read Data released by the Commerce Department indicates ‘one of the weakest American labor markets in years’
-
US mints final penny after 232-year runSpeed Read Production of the one-cent coin has ended
-
Warner Bros. explores sale amid Paramount bidsSpeed Read The media giant, home to HBO and DC Studios, has received interest from multiple buying parties
-
Gold tops $4K per ounce, signaling financial uneaseSpeed Read Investors are worried about President Donald Trump’s trade war
-
Electronic Arts to go private in record $55B dealspeed read The video game giant is behind ‘The Sims’ and ‘Madden NFL’
-
New York court tosses Trump's $500M fraud fineSpeed Read A divided appeals court threw out a hefty penalty against President Trump for fraudulently inflating his wealth
-
Trump said to seek government stake in IntelSpeed Read The president and Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan reportedly discussed the proposal at a recent meeting
