The Simpsons cast secure high pay, close ties and relative privacy

The Simpsons marks its 800th episode, and the long-running show's cast are reported to earn roughly $300,000 to $400,000 per episode.

The 800th episode of The Simpsons airs this Sunday as the series continues into its 37th year. The animated show is broadcast in about 200 countries and has earned 37 Emmy Awards. It began as short sketches on The Tracy Ullman Show before becoming a standalone program. Voice actors such as Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith are closely associated with the characters they portray. What we know: - The Simpsons is in its 37th year and the 800th episode is scheduled to air this Sunday. - The series is broadcast in roughly 200 countries and has won 37 Emmy Awards. - Voice actors are reported to earn about $300,000 to $400,000 per episode. - A former executive estimated that actors' salaries now account for roughly half of the show's budget, and a 2017 Variety figure put an episode cost at $6.5 million. - Cast members negotiate pay as a group and have largely remained intact; Hank Azaria stepped back from voicing Apu in 2020. - AI voice modeling tools can recreate voices from recordings and have prompted discussion about rights, contracts and union involvement, with SAG-AFTRA active on the issue. Summary: The show's distinctive voice cast is a central part of its identity and a significant component of production costs. Advances in AI voice modeling have raised questions about rights and contracts. Undetermined at this time.