Zendaya Becomes Youngest Black Actress to Earn $1 Million Per Episode

Nationwide — Zendaya has made history as the youngest Black actress to earn over $1 million per episode for her role as Rue Bennett on HBO Max’s Euphoria. At just 28 years old, Zendaya’s new contract places her among the highest-paid actors in television.

In addition to her acting, Zendaya also serves as an executive producer, further boosting her earnings. She follows Kerry Washington, who previously earned over $1 million per episode for her work in Scandal and Little Fires Everywhere. Washington was the first black actress to reach this milestone.

According to Mirror, Zendaya’s contract puts her in the same league as top actresses like Elisabeth Moss, Kaley Cuoco, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Reese Witherspoon, who have all secured similar high-paying contracts.

Zendaya first gained recognition in 2020 when she became the youngest winner of the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series at just 24 years old. She won the award again in 2022, becoming a two-time Emmy winner.

The third season of Euphoria is set to air in 2026, with production recently starting. While familiar faces like Storm Reid, Barbie Ferreira, and the late Angus Cloud will be absent, fans can look forward to cameo appearances from stars like Sharon Stone and Rosalia.