Final Season Details and Broadcast Plan
The series finale of The Big Bang Theory aired in May 2019, concluding the twelfth season. The final season consisted of 24 episodes, bringing the total episode count to 279. The finale drew 18.52 million viewers in the United States, making it the most-watched episode of the season. CBS announced the final season order in January 2017, confirming the show would conclude after season 12. CBS aired the series across multiple time slots during its run, with the final episodes airing on Thursday nights.
The show was produced by Chuck Lorre Productions and Warner Bros. Television. The finale wrapped storylines for the main characters, including Sheldon and Amy's wedding and Howard and Bernadette's family life. The series finale was written by series creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, and directed by Mark Cendrowski. The episode title was "The Stockholm Syndrome."
Main Cast Earnings and Contracts
In the final seasons, the six lead actors earned a reported 1 million per episode each. This made them among the highest-paid television actors at the time. The main cast includes Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, and Melissa Rauch. Forbes reported that the cast negotiated raises multiple times during the show's run, with their total earnings from the series exceeding 1 billion.
The actors also received backend participation in the show's syndication and streaming profits. Warner Bros. Television distributed the series globally, with reruns airing in over 200 countries. The show's streaming rights were held by HBO Max and Netflix in various territories. SEC filings from Warner Bros. Discovery have referenced the show's long-term value in their portfolio.
What Comes Next After The Big Bang Theory
Several spin-offs and related projects have been announced or are in development. The most notable is a prequel series focused on the young Sheldon Cooper, titled Young Sheldon, which aired from 2017 to 2024 on CBS. Warner Bros. has also explored additional spinoff concepts, though none have been confirmed as series orders yet. The main cast members have pursued other projects, with Jim Parsons starring in new series and Kaley Cuoco producing and acting in other roles.
The Big Bang Theory remains one of the highest-rated sitcoms in television history, with a consistent top 10 Nielsen ranking for most of its run. The show's finale set a record for the largest audience for a sitcom finale in the 2010s. Tesla and other tech companies have referenced the show in marketing and product names, reflecting its cultural impact. The series continues to generate revenue through streaming, syndication, and merchandise sales worldwide.