Jodie Sweetin, known for her role as Stephanie Tanner on the beloved sitcom Full House, has disclosed the surprisingly modest residual payments she receives from the show, shortly after Friends star Lisa Kudrow revealed that the cast still earns a staggering $20 million per year in residuals.
The 44-year-old actress made the revelation during an appearance on The McBride Rewind podcast last week. Sweetin, who played Stephanie from 1987 to 1995 and reprised the role in the Netflix sequel Fuller House from 2016 to 2020, admitted that her most recent residual check was exactly one penny.
'I got a one-cent check the other day,' she said, explaining that 'there's no syndication anymore because it's all in streaming. Who gets paid for that? Nobody gets paid for that.' Sweetin noted that her residual payments are the opposite of what many people assume.
When she was younger, the residual checks were different. 'Sure, in my 20s, there would be money, but not reliable. You don't know how much it's going to be or how often they're going to run the show,' she told the podcast host. She added that sometimes the checks were a nice surprise, but 'it's not something you can rely on.'
Sweetin emphasized that she does not live an extravagant life. 'I drive my 2023 used Hyundai Sonata that I love. I rent my house. I have credit cards that are maxed out. I live a normal life,' she said. She acknowledged that there are moments when things go well, but also times when she needs a day job.
The Full House cast also includes John Stamos, the late Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, Candace Cameron Bure, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Lori Loughlin, and Andrea Barber. The sitcom aired for eight seasons until 1995, following a widower raising his three daughters with the help of his brother-in-law and close friend. A sequel, Fuller House, was released on Netflix in 2016, featuring most of the original cast except the Olsen twins.
When asked about a possible return to the Full House universe, Sweetin joked about a future series called Fuller Fullest House where the cast is ancient. However, she added that she will never say never. 'If I got to come back in another 20 years and work with these people again, who I've known for my entire life, yeah, I would totally do that.'
Sweetin reflected on the show's impact, saying, 'I love what Full House has done, and I love what it has created. I love what it means to people. I understand just how important it is to have that thing that connects you to your younger, safer self.'
In contrast, Lisa Kudrow recently revealed that she and her Friends co-stars still earn approximately $20 million annually in residuals. Kudrow, who played Phoebe Buffay, starred alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc, and the late Matthew Perry. The cast famously negotiated their salaries together, reaching $1 million per episode in the final seasons, and earned $2.5 million each for the 2021 reunion special. Kudrow noted that the show's enduring success justifies the residuals, especially after Perry's death, saying, 'I truly appreciated just how great it was.'
