Ted Danson
- Net worth $80 million
- Birthday December 29, 1947
- Status -
- Country United States
- Source(-s) of wealth Actor
How much is Ted Danson Worth? Ted Danson Net Worth in 2026
Ted Danson’s net worth is estimated at $80 million as of October 2026. Danson is an American actor who played bartender Sam Malone on Cheers for 11 seasons and has since led Becker, CSI, The Good Place and Netflix’s A Man on the Inside. The biggest driver of the wealth is that long run of network lead roles, with Cheers reportedly paying around $450,000 an episode at its peak.
| Net worth | $80 million (our estimate) |
|---|---|
| Estimated annual income | About $4 million a year (our estimate) |
| Born | 29 December 1947, San Diego, California (age 78) |
| Country | United States |
| Known for | Cheers, Becker, CSI, The Good Place, A Man on the Inside |
| Main income sources | Television salary, syndication and residuals, advertising, voice work |
How much is Ted Danson worth in 2026?
We estimate Ted Danson’s net worth at about $80 million. It is an estimate. Studios do not publish actors’ contracts, and the per-episode figures we use come from secondary reporting that we could not confirm.
The numbers add up simply. Cheers ran for 275 episodes between 1982 and 1993, and Danson reportedly earned between $450,000 and $500,000 an episode in the final seasons, among the highest on television at the time. Becker added 129 episodes as the title character. CSI paid a reported $250,000 an episode over 84 episodes, plus 18 more on a spin-off.
On top sit residuals from decades of reruns, voice work on American Dad, a 2024 deal as a pitchman for a cellular company, and Netflix pay for A Man on the Inside. Public trackers range from about $60 million to $80 million. We settle at the top of that range because of how long his lead-role run has lasted.
How Ted Danson built it
- Anchored Cheers for 11 seasons. He played Sam Malone across 275 episodes and reportedly earned up to $500,000 an episode.
- Kept landing lead roles. He led Becker, CSI, The Good Place and A Man on the Inside.
- Added residuals and side work. Reruns, voice work on American Dad and a 2024 pitchman deal add income.
Learn the wealth mindset behind Ted Danson’s career in the Alux app.
Get the Alux appTed Danson in 2026: what he has been working on
- 2026: He voiced Ralph Waldo Emerson in the PBS documentary Henry David Thoreau.
- 2025: He received the Carol Burnett Award, and with Mary Steenburgen the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
- 2024 to present: He plays Charles Nieuwendyk in A Man on the Inside on Netflix, a 16-episode run adapted from the documentary The Mole Agent.
- 2024: He became the spokesperson for Consumer Cellular.
- Ongoing: He continues to voice a character in the animated series American Dad
How Ted Danson makes money
- Network lead roles: Cheers, Becker, CSI and Mr. Mayor over four decades.
- Streaming: A Man on the Inside on Netflix, with a Golden Globe nomination for season one.
- Syndication and residuals: Reruns of Cheers and later series, amounts unknown.
- Advertising: A 2024 spokesperson deal for Consumer Cellular.
- Voice work: American Dad and documentaries.
What Ted Danson teaches (and what to take from it)
Danson has stayed in leading roles from the 1980s through the 2020s. Four habits behind that, in our own words.
Reinvent the character, not the career
He went from Cheers to Becker, a doctor, to CSI, a graveyard-shift supervisor, to The Good Place. Each role stretched his range. Pick a part of your work to play differently this week.
Stay curious about people
Michael in The Good Place spends the story learning about people. Spend 10 minutes this week asking a colleague what they would change about your shared work.
Back a cause for the long haul
He helped found an ocean advocacy group in the 1980s and still serves on the board of its successor. Choose one cause or community and commit to a recurring contribution.
Keep showing up past your peak
He took a lead on Netflix at 76. Add one stretch assignment that someone younger would have taken.
Career timeline
- 1947: Born in San Diego.
- 1982 to 1993: Plays Sam Malone on Cheers across 275 episodes.
- 1998 to 2004: Stars in Becker.
- 2011 to 2015: Plays D.B. Russell on CSI for 84 episodes.
- 2016 to 2020: Plays Michael on The Good Place.
- 2021 to 2022: Stars in Mr. Mayor.
- 2024: Leads A Man on the Inside on Netflix.
- 2025: Receives the Carol Burnett Award and the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
Early life and background
Ted Danson was born on 29 December 1947 in San Diego, California.
He helped found the American Oceans Campaign in the 1980s, which merged into Oceana in 2001, and he wrote the 2011 book Oceana with Michael D’Orso.
Ted Danson net worth FAQ
What is Ted Danson’s net worth in 2026?
We estimate about $80 million as of October 2026. Public trackers range from about $60 million to $80 million.
How much did Ted Danson make on Cheers?
Secondary reports say about $450,000 to $500,000 an episode in the final seasons across 275 episodes. The figures are unconfirmed.
How much did Ted Danson make on CSI?
Reports put it at about $250,000 per episode, over 84 episodes. It was not officially published.
How old is Ted Danson?
He was born on 29 December 1947, so he is 78 as of October 2026.
What is Ted Danson known for?
Playing Sam Malone on Cheers, plus Becker, CSI, The Good Place and A Man on the Inside.
How is Ted Danson’s net worth estimated?
We add reported per-episode pay across his series, residuals and advertising, then subtract tax and costs. It is an estimate, not a disclosed figure.
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How we estimate net worth
Our estimates are based on public reporting, company valuations, and deal and earnings figures all compiled in an internal valuation model. They are approximate, and figures change over time as new information emerges.
Last updated: October 2026.