How Much Actors Got Paid for Some of the Most Successful Commercials of All Time

You don’t need to be a major film star like Chris Hemsworth to earn some good money. It turns out a little screen time on TV commercials can earn you some big bucks, too. Just ask some of the most memorable characters in these popular TV commercials.

Performers like Flo from those Progressive commercials were on camera for about 15 to 30 seconds, but that’s all they needed to get paid more than most of us will earn in a lifetime. Some actors even get a paycheck in the mail every time their commercial airs!

Red Robin Lady

Melanie Paxson did several commercials for Gladware and appeared on a few shows like “Kitchen Confidential,” “Rules of Engagement,” CSI,” and “Medium.” But most folks remember her for appearing in commercials as the “Red Robin Lady.”

Red Robin Paid Her $50,249

Paxson received $50,249 from the restaurant company Red Robin. But while those commercials didn’t earn her millions, they did boost her career and even landed her a role in the short-lived sitcom “Happy Family” in 2003.

Her latest acting role was in the series “Dealbreakers.”

The Snapple Lady

Wendy Kaufman, aka The Snapple Lady not only appeared in commercials, but also answered fan mail for Snapple. Unfortunately, the bubbly personality with a big smile didn’t exactly get the compensation that she probably deserved.

Snapple Paid Her $100,000

Snapple went from being a $23 million business to a $750 million business within a 10-year-period. Unfortunately, all Kaufman got was $100,000, and to add insult to injury, she lost her job when Quaker Oats bought Snapple. But she was eventually re-hired by the company.