Jim Parsons became the highest-paid actor in 2017 with a salary of $27.5 million, but it wasn't just because of his role on The Big Bang Theory. Creator Bill Prady had no doubts about Parsons' ability to play Sheldon, but Chuck Lorre was unsure if he could maintain such a polished performance. However, Parsons proved himself and landed the role, becoming a major success. In addition to his work on the show, Parsons secured an endorsement deal with Intel, appeared in the Oscar-nominated Hidden Figures, and earned backend profits from the show's reruns. Jim's net worth currently sits at $160 million, thanks in large part to his successful acting career.