Tom Selleck’s Substantially Lower ‘Blue Bloods’ Salary Compared To His ‘Magnum P.I.’ Days

Tom Selleck got into the limelight with his lead role in Magnum, P.I., which aired from 1980 to 1988. In the hit series, Selleck played Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV, an ex-navy officer turned private detective. It’s a role that allowed the actor to hit the jackpot: he was paid $500,000 per episode, which, adjusted for inflation, is about $1.2 million a show.

However, beginning in 2010 Selleck starred as the New York City Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods, and was compensated far less than his ’80s paycheck— $200,000 per episode, which is half of Henry Cavill’s salary for his role in The Witcher. It’s surprising why the actor would accept less than he had been paid three decades ago.

Freedom Over Figures?

Sticking with the Cavill comparison, beyond the $400,000 he received for each episode of The Witcher, he was paid half a million dollars for making cameo appearances as Superman in Black Adam and 2023’s The Flash (a sequence that may ultimately be cut given the fact that the character is being rebooted). The reason he took the pay cut to play Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher is the same that Selleck agreed to star in Blue Bloods: he enjoyed the role. As simple as that.

RELATED: Tom Selleck Talks About His Role And The Future Of ‘Blue Bloods’

It’s safe to say that A-list actors prioritize freedom and the work they love over money, and Selleck, who is worth over $45 million, obviously has no problem with the per-episode fee.

For CBS, casting Selleck in Blue Bloods was a great move as it quickly help earn the network its reputation as the most-watched US TV broadcast channel. The crime drama series is currently in its 13th season, and 77-year-old Selleck is willing to continue on the series. “I’ve got a mortgage. I’m game!” Selleck responded during an interview with Insider when asked if he would return for season 14.

A-list Celebrity Salaries

Hollywood top actor Robert Downey Jr. is getting a whopping $2 million per episode for co-starring in the post-Vietnam war series, The Sympathizer, coming to HBO. Chris Pratt is another A-lister who earned up to $1.4 million per episode in The Terminal List Prime Video saeries. Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon were featured on the Apple T.V. + The Morning Show for $2 million per episode each.

Jeff Bridges also got a $1 million deal per episode on Hulu’s The Old Man. Other highest-paid T.V. actors include Charlie Sheen, Tim Allen, and Jerry Seinfield.