Josh Peck Reveals How Much He Really Made From ‘Drake & Josh’ After 60 Episodes and 4 Years

Josh Peck is opening up about the money he made during his years as a Nickelodeon star, and the number is much lower than many fans might expect.

During an appearance on the “Financial Tea with Mrs. Dow Jones” podcast, Peck talked about his earnings from the hit sitcom “Drake & Josh” and explained that the show did not make him a millionaire while it was on the air. The actor said that after four years and 60 episodes, his total take-home pay was around $500,000.

Peck explained that his acting career started with smaller payments when he appeared on Nickelodeon’s “The Amanda Show.” He said he and his castmates initially earned about $3,000 per episode before moving on to “Drake & Josh.”

As the popularity of the show grew, so did their episode payments. Peck revealed that by the end of the series, he was making around $15,000 per episode. However, after taxes, management fees, and other expenses, much of that money disappeared.

“So over four years, we wound up making about $900,000, but I think we probably, between agent, manager, and taxes, we cleared half of that,” Peck said on the podcast.

Looking at the full four-year period, Peck estimated that his yearly earnings were around $125,000 after expenses. He also pointed out that the cast did not receive major residual payments from the show, which was common for many children’s television actors at the time.

According to Peck, young actors had very little power when negotiating deals back then. He explained that Nickelodeon was one of the only major places for young performers to build a television career, leaving actors with limited options.

“It was a different time and I think it was… there was only one sort of place to do it, right?” Peck said while discussing the situation.

The actor compared the experience to other television casts that were able to negotiate together for better deals. He suggested that younger performers often accepted the contracts available because there were not many other opportunities in the industry.

Peck also opened up about how earning money as a teenager affected his relationship with finances. Growing up with a single mother, he said he became the main earner for his family at a young age, which created a sense of pressure and financial stress that stayed with him.

Even after becoming successful, Peck said he remained careful with money. He credited his mother, his accountant, and his mentor Dan from Big Brothers Big Sisters for helping him develop smart financial habits. Instead of taking big risks, Peck said he focused on saving and investing in simple ways.

The actor said he waited until his mid-30s before buying a home because he wanted to feel financially secure in case acting opportunities slowed down.

Peck first became known as a child comedian before joining Nickelodeon. After appearing on “The Amanda Show,” he became a household name alongside Drake Bell in “Drake & Josh,” which ran from 2004 to 2007.

Since then, Peck has continued building a long career with roles in movies and television. He voiced Eddie in the “Ice Age” franchise, played Casey Jones in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” appeared in “Oppenheimer,” and starred in shows including “Turner & Hooch” and “How I Met Your Father.”

Today, Peck continues acting, hosting his “Good Guy’s Podcast,” and working on new projects while focusing on his family and making careful choices with his career.

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