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When Netflix debuted "Stranger Things" in 2016, audiences were enthused by the show and its stars became instantly famous. If you look throughout TV history, child stars have been around for some time, even if they’re not always in the leading role.
And they can make pretty good money, too, as evidenced by the following reported salaries of nine child TV stars.
Angus T. Jones made history as the highest-paid child actor ever.
He is the highest paid child star of all time.
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Playing Jake Harper on the CBS show "Two and a Half Men," Angus T. Jones worked his way up to $300,000 per episode by age 17, in 2010, according to Entertainment Tonight. He made history as the highest-paid child actor ever.
Miranda Cosgrove made really big bucks on "iCarly."
Cosgrove was paid incredibly well.
Viacom Media Networks
Miranda Cosgrove, the star of "iCarly" on Nickelodeon, wound up making a whopping an estimated $180,000 per episode of the show, which ran from 2007 to 2012, according to MTV.
Frankie Muniz made it big time as Malcolm.
Muniz was making $120,000 a show by 2006.
20th Television
When FOX’s "Malcolm in the Middle" first went on the air in 2000, Frankie Muniz was reportedly making $30,000 per episode as the titular star. However, by the end of the series in 2006, he was banking $120,000 an episode, according to The Richest.
Gary Coleman worked his way up to five figures.
Coleman made $70,000 an episode — in the 80s.
Embassy Telecommunications
The late Gary Coleman, who played the lovable Arnold on the iconic NBC show "Diff’rent Strokes," started out making $1,500 per episode in 1978 but eventually worked up to $70,000 per episode, according to The Washington Post — and keep in mind that that was in the 1980s.
The "Stranger Things" kids all got the same salary.
The cast each makes $30,000.
Netflix
The four main child stars of the hit Netflix show "Stranger Things" — Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin — each reportedly earned $30,000 per episode for the first and second seasons of the show as well as a bonus, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Selena Gomez made money magic on "Wizards of Waverly Place."
Gomez played a wizard.
Disney Channel
Although she’s moved onto a major music career, Selena Gomez was making good money on the Disney Channel’s "Wizards of Waverly Place," taking in a reported $30,000 per episode for playing Alex Russo, according to Gawker.
Dylan and Cole Sprouse each earned a great salary per episode.
The twins made $20,000 an episode.
Disney Channel
Brothers Dylan and Cole Sprouse were living the sweet life while starring on "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody" on the Disney Channel because each made reportedly $20,000 per episode, according to Gawker.
Miley Cyrus cashed in as Hannah Montana.
Cyrus made a lot acting as Hannah Montana.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Miley Cyrus has long shed her "Hannah Montana" persona, but the young actress wasn’t doing too badly during her time on the small screen. She earned roughly $15,000 per episode of the Disney Channel show, according to the NY Post.
Rico Rodriguez has grown up and made big bucks on "Modern Family."
Rodriguez recently negotiated his salary to $100,000 an episode.
20th Television
In 2010, 11-year-old Rico Rodriguez, who plays Manny on ABC’s "Modern Family," was making $15,000 an episode, according to the New York Post. About to turn 19 years old, he renegotiated last year to earn $100,000 per episode alongside his fictional siblings, according to the New York Daily News.
