Taylor Sheridan has emerged as the current King of Television after the massive success of Yellowstone led to a whole slate of shows, but even so, it’s hard to quite fathom exactly how much money his shows are raking in for the Paramount Network — and how much they cost.
Sheridan was a struggling actor in Hollywood for many years, once even famously living with his dog between his car and a tent while he was trying to make a living as an actor with small roles on shows including CSI and NYPD Blue.
Once he quit acting and began working as a screenwriter, director and producer, he began to find massive success with movies including Sicario, Hell or High Water and Wind River.
But he didn’t really catapult into the mainstream public consciousness until the smash-hit success of Yellowstone, which started with modest ratings in 2018 before building its audience into the most-watched drama on cable television.
That success led to a television empire for Sheridan, who has gone on to develop two Yellowstone prequels, 1883 and 1923, as well as a large slate of other programming for Paramount Network.
Sheridan’s other shows include Mayor of Kingstown, Lioness, Landman, Tulsa King, Lawmen: Bass Reeves and more, and in an interview with Australian Financial Review in 2023, he revealed the staggering amount of Paramount Network money that’s in play across all of his shows.
“I’m shooting over $US1 billion [$1.5 billion] worth of television shows,” Sheridan stated. “That’s how much money they’ve trusted me with, and I have to go make more than that with the product I create. So yes, it’s a tremendous amount of responsibility … I’m aware of the opportunity, and so I do spread myself thin as a result.”
Sheridan’s multi-year deal with Paramount pays him a reported $200, and he also charges the network to use his ranches and his better-trained horses in his shows, providing another source of revenue. One would imagine he also owns a significant piece of the merchandise and licensing rights to Yellowstone, which has authorized everything from jackets and hats to flasks, a line of spices and even a line of Yellowstone meat sticks.
Sheridan acknowledges that he can only maintain his current pace for three to five years, “at least as far as me writing, directing, editing, casting,” and he’s trying to make as much hay as he can while the sun is shining.
“I don’t know that I will ever have this creative freedom again,” he said. “Hopefully, I can ride off into the sunset before something tanks.”
Yellowstone is set to come to an end after the Season 5 finale on Sunday night (Dec. 15), and Paramount has already announced an upcoming Yellowstone sequel titled The Madison, which stars Michelle Pfeiffer, former Suits star Patrick J. Adams and former Lost star Matthew Fox.
Additionally, Deadline reports that Yellowstone stars Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler) and Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton) have signed on to continue their roles in another Yellowstone sequel, with no further details yet available. Paramount has not confirmed that reporting.
PICTURES: Get a First Look at ‘Yellowstone’ Season 5, Part 2
Yellowstone is gearing up to return for the much-anticipated second half of Season 5, and Paramount Network has shared several never-before-seen photos as a first look at the upcoming episodes.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
PICTURES: See Inside Kevin Costner’s Spectacular Colorado Ranch
Yellowstone star Kevin Costner lives the ranch life when he’s off the set of the hit show, too. The Oscar-winning actor owns a 160-acre ranch in Aspen, Colo., that’s a spectacular getaway, complete with a main residence, a lake house and a river house.
The luxury retreat also features a baseball field, a sledding hill, an ice rink, multiple hot tubs and views of the Continental Divide. The ranch property comfortably sleeps 27 people, and it’s currently available to rent for 36,000 a night.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
PICTURES: See Inside ‘Yellowstone’ Star Cole Hauser’s Spectacular California Ranch
Cole Hauser doesn’t just play a rancher on Yellowstone, he’s lived that life off-screen, too. The actor’s 5-bedroom-6-bathroom, 5,402-square-foot rural home on a very private, double-gated three-acre parcel of land includes the lavish 4-bedroom, 4-bathroom main residence, as well as a guest house and a separate studio apartment. The main house runs completely on solar power and comes with a 3-car garage, with easy transitions between indoor and outdoor living spaces, and the exterior of the property includes a pool area and a hot tub, as well as fenced-in horse corrals.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
See Inside ‘Yellowstone’ Star Ryan Bingham’s Gorgeous $2.45 Million Estate
Yellowstone star and singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham has listed his 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom, 2,394-square-foot home in an exclusive area of Los Angeles for sale, and pictures show a beautiful, luxurious property that offers stunning mountain views.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
PICTURES: See Inside ‘Yellowstone’ Star Hassie Harrison’s Spectacular $2.7 Million Villa
Yellowstone star Hassie Harrison is selling her stunning villa in a private California canyon, and pictures show a rare property that’s worth every penny of her nearly $2.7 million asking price.
Harrison’s 3-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom, 2,579-square-foot home was built in 1958 and has since been updated into a Mediterranean-style villa.
The property is remarkably secluded, with just one small, private road leading to the gated front of the home. It opens onto soaring canyon views at the back of the property, and almost every interior room boasts stunning views out over the canyons, while the exterior boasts outdoor living spaces, a fireplace and more.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
PICTURES: See Inside ‘Yellowstone’ Actor Barret Swatek’s $100 Million Malibu Estate
Yellowstone actor Barret Swatek is selling her spectacular oceanfront estate in Malibu, and pictures show a bedazzling property that’s one of the most upper-crust properties even in that illustrious zip code.
Swatek and her husband, former hedge fund manager Adam Weiss, are asking for just under $100 million for their 4-bedroom, 5.5-bathoom, 7,450-square-foot contemporary villa that sits directly beachside on the white sands of El Sol Beach, one of the most exclusive spots even according to Malibu standards.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
You Can Rent a Cabin on the Ranch From ‘Yellowstone’ – See Pictures
The stunning Montana ranch that serves as the setting for the hit TV show Yellowstone offers cabins for rent, and the price includes tours of the set and ranch. Scroll below to see photos of the extraordinary property.
Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
Sterling Whitaker is a Senior Writer and Senior Editor for Taste of Country. He focuses on celebrity real estate, as well as coverage of Yellowstone and related shows like 1883 and 1923. He’s interviewed cast members including Cole Hauser, Kelly Reilly, Sam Elliott and Harrison Ford, and Whitaker is also known for his in-depth interviews with country legends including Don Henley, Rodney Crowell, Trace Adkins, Ronnie Milsap, Ricky Skaggs and more.