‘The Goldbergs’: How Much Does Wendi McLendon-Covey Make Per Episode?
Wendi McLendon-Covey is best known for her roles on Reno 911, Bridesmaids, and The Goldbergs. Here’s a look at her net worth, career, and how much she makes per episode, in a nutshell.
How Wendi McLendon-Covey got her start
The Long Beach, California native didn’t automatically become “the queen of improv” without a little hustle. McLendon-Covey is a California State University graduate with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and Creative Writing.
As a weekend attendee at Groundlings Theater in L.A., she eventually became a member of the Main Company from 2002-2009, according to her IMDb page.
If McLendon-Covey’s face is a familiar one, it’s because she’s guest-starred, and become a series regular, in dozens of projects. From early roles in Bewitched, The Office, and Lovespring International, McLendon-Covey set the trajectory for her career with quick improvisational wit.
The movie, Bridesmaids, and shows such as Rules of Engagement, Reno 911, and The Goldbergs launched McLendon-Covey’s career into what it is today. Her role portraying real-life Beverly Goldberg is iconic, to say the least.
How does Wendi-McLendon-Covey make her money?
Other than playing the loud-mouthed, sweater-wearing Beverly Goldberg, McLendon-Covey leaves her mark all over the entertainment world. As a master of improv, the pro can take any role and transform it into something new.
McLendon-Covey’s voice may also sound familiar. As an animated voice actor, she’s busy working on shows like Bob’s Burgers, Big City Greens, and Pickle and Peanut. She’s one busy woman.
Wendi McLendon-Covey’s charity work
In 2016, McLendon-Covey spoke with Larry King about lobbying on Capitol Hill with the Creative Coalition, a nonprofit public charity that tackles issues of direct importance to the arts and entertainment community, public funding for the arts, and arts education in public schools.
“We were there to talk to senators about not decreasing the funding for the arts,” she said. “So not decreasing the amount spent on the national endowment for the arts.”
How much does Wendi-McLendon-Covey make per episode of ‘The Goldbergs’?
McLendon-Covey’s net worth is $5 million, according to Celebrity net Worth. It’s unclear exactly how much she makes per episode for her role as Beverly Goldberg on The Goldbergs, or if the total includes the worth of liquid assets. If you break her net worth down by the hour, McLendon-Covey earns around $96 per hour of work.
In a 2015 article, The Hollywood Reporter said “newcomers can expect to earn just $15,000 to $20,000 per episode on a network or cable series.” For the more experienced actors are paid upwards of $150,000 per episode.
That said, THR claimed McLendon-Covey’s Goldbergs co-star, Jeff Garlin, made $84,000 per episode on season 2. His estimated net worth is $12 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Though Garlin has other financial interests (such as comedy), compared to McLendon-Covey, he’s making making more than twice as much for the same level of work, on the same show. Contract negotiations may change that for future seasons.
What’s next for Wendi McLendon-Covey
Season 7 of The Goldbergs airs Wednesday, September 25 at 9 p.m. EST on ABC. Other projects in post-production include: Sick Girl, Whaling, Sylvie,
and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.
In an interview with Wealthsimple, McLendon-Covey said of her side hustle as an editor, “I’d be in my trailer on set editing things, and on location with my computer and my manuscript editing.”
America’s favorite TV mom may not rank on the 2019 Forbes “Highest Paid Actresses” list, but it’s all good. McLendon-Covey no longer has the need to maintain a part-time job to supplement her acting career and that’s pretty darn huge.
