Which Star of ‘The Sopranos’ Has the Highest Net Worth?
When The Sopranos wrapped its sixth and final season in 2007, the classic HBO show had changed more than just expectations for cable series. On the salary front, James Gandolfini’s $1 million per episode upended the way actors got paid outside of network TV.
But the man playing Tony Soprano wasn’t the only one reaping the spoils of a hit show. Toward the end of its run, Edie Falco (Carmela Soprano) and Michael Imperioli (Christopher Moltisanti) were making a reported $500,000 per episode as well.
Supporting players on The Sopranos, including Tony Sirico (Paulie Walnuts) and Lorraine Bracco (Dr. Jennifer Melfi), were also making over six figures per episode by the time the show’s run ended.
In brief, many fortunes were made by the show’s biggest stars. However, the actor who stands as the richest of all in 2019 added The Sopranos to his earnings from another hugely popular New Jersey franchise.
At the time of his death, Gandolfini was likely the richest cast member.
When he passed away in Italy at the age of 51, Gandolfini went out with a net worth of $70 million. He earned the biggest chunk of that fortune playing Tony Soprano, the biggest role of his career.
However, his steady work in films kept the paychecks coming. had he survived and continued working, he likely would be the richest cast member of the show today.
Falco, whose work as Carmela made for great sparring with Gandolfini, also ranks among the wealthiest cast members. Between her work on The Sopranos, Nurse Jackie, and other TV shows, she amassed a fortune close to $40 million, Celebrity Net Worth has reported.
Bracco ($25 million) and Imperioli ($20 million) also earned fortunes in their careers in the business. But even with all these eye-popping figures, no one with a major role on the mob show could match the net worth of Steven Van Zandt.
In 2019, Steven Van Zandt ranks as the wealthiest former ‘Sopranos’ actor.
By the time he took on the role of Silvio Dante, Steven Van Zandt was already a New Jersey legend. After making a name for himself in the Asbury Park music scene, he joined Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band in 1975.
Touring with Springsteen off and on over the years has obviously been a cash-cow for Van Zandt. But he also has his own band, Little Steven and The Disciples of Soul. In total, he has over 400 songwriting credits to his name.
Among his producer credits, the most lucrative likely has been Born in the U.S.A. With that music career and the sort of earnings that pile up with $170,000 per episode of The Sopranos, you can see how Van Zandt is now worth $80 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
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