The hit Fox drama "Empire" returns to TV with its third season premiere on Sept. 21, 2016. In anticipation of the return of the fierce showdown between Cookie and Lucious Lyon, take a look at how the "Empire" actors' net worths compare in real life.
The 'Empire' Lowdown
For readers who have yet to catch an episode of "Empire," the show is a drama that centers on a family business, the hip-hop music production company Empire Entertainment.
Founder and CEO Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) was diagnosed with a serious disease in the first season and sought an heir to his empire among his three sons -- college-educated executive Andre Lyon (Trai Byers), gay singer-songwriter and second son Jamal Lyon (Jussie Smollett) and the talented rapper and feisty youngest son Hakeem Lyon (Bryshere Gray).
Complicating matters, Lucious' ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) returned from prison after serving 17 years and fought to reclaim her place in the music business and as the family's matriarch.
"Empire" Season 2 ended in dramatic fashion, with love and hopes being dashed, and a vicious fight between main characters that left viewers hanging as the episode ended. But in just a few weeks, "Empire" Season 3 will debut. Anticipation runs high for the "Empire" season premiere -- especially its ratings.
Find Out: The Best Shows About Money on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon
'Empire' Viewership and Production Costs
"Empire" was created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, the director and writer behind the 2013 film "The Butler." The first episode premiered to 9.9 million viewers, numbers which jumped to over 16.7 million by the Season 1 finale, reports The Wrap. In fact, "Empire" Season 1 beat the CBS show "The Big Bang Theory" in the adult demographic, reported Entertainment Weekly.
"Empire" Season 2 got off to a similarly impressive start with 16.2 million viewers during its premiere, though viewership declined markedly compared to the first season as the series progressed. By the Season 2 finale, the Lyon family and crew pulled 10.8 million viewers -- a 38 percent drop in ratings in adults 18-49 from the Season 1 finale, reports Deadline.
The Los Angeles Times estimates "Empire" costs more than $3 million per episode to produce, which is in line with network drama budgets. Executive producer Brian Grazer told the LA Times that "the show has been made at a very smart price" and that "it's not expensive."
Watch the 'Empire' Season 3 Trailer
https://www.youtube.com/embed/YDWvW5bZunM
Taraji P. Henson Net Worth: $6 Million
"Empire" matriarch Cookie Lyon, played by Taraji P. Henson, is a formidable force in the family known for her razor-sharp comebacks, not to mention the fierce right hook she threw in the Season 1 finale.
Henson is no featherweight when it comes to earnings, with TV and film credits including "Person of Interest," "Hustle & Flow" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," -- the latter even scored her a 2009 Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.
Henson's role as Cookie has earned her two Emmy nominations: one in 2015 and one in 2016 for outstanding lead actress in a drama series. She also won the 2016 Golden Globes Award for best performance by an actress in a drama television series. Her net worth is $6 million, according to CelebrityNetWorth.com.
Terrence Howard Net Worth: $5 Million
Terrence Howard plays "Empire" patriarch Lucious Lyon, a devious character who pits his sons against each other while doing anything to maintain the status of the record company he founded. Terrence Howard reportedly makes $125,000 per episode, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Howard has had a lengthy and successful acting career, with more than 80 TV and film credits to his name, which have likely helped him earn a net worth of $5 million. Howard is well-known for his roles in the "Law & Order" franchise, 2008's "Iron Man" and "Hustle & Flow," for which he received a best actor Oscar nomination in 2006.
Howard continues his work in film and is set to reprise his role as Quentin in "The Best Man Wedding," the third film in the successful "Best Man" franchise.
Gabourey Sidibe Net Worth: $6 Million
Gabourey Sidibe rose to fame after playing the lead role in the film "Precious," a breakout success that made over four times its $10 million budget following the 2009 release, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com figures. In "Empire," Sidibe plays Lucious' hard-working assistant Becky, until she was eventually promoted to A&R.
She has also held recurring roles in "American Horror Story" and recently appeared in the 2016 comedy "The Brothers Grimsby" alongside Sacha Baron Cohen, though it disappointed at the box office, grossing less than $7 million domestically. Sidibe has amassed a net worth of $6 million, while gaining critical acclaim in the meantime with a best actress Oscar nomination for "Precious."
Jussie Smollett Net Worth: $500,000
Smollett plays Jamal Lyon. Besides "Empire," he starred in "North" and "The Skinny" and has made appearances on TV shows "Coach," "The Mindy Project" and "Revenge." But Smollett's portrayal as Jamal is the breakout role of his career -- although he can boast "The Mighty Ducks" as well on his resume. Smollett's net worth is $500,000.
Bryshere Gray Net Worth: $2 Million
Gray plays youngest son Hakeem Lyon, a hip-hop artist who's initially more interested in his rich-kid lifestyle than learning how to run a music empire. In the "Empire" Season 2 finale, Hakeem and his love Laura are set to marry, but the grand ceremony is ruined when Anika gets served a court order in the middle of it. The season ends with Hakeem alone after his bride-to-be leaves him at the altar.
Much of Gray's net worth might come from his own music career in addition to his role on "Empire." He has performed under the stage name Yazz the Greatest at music festivals, including Jay Z's Made in America Festival. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Gray is currently worth $2 million.
Trai Byers Net Worth: $1.5 Million
Before "Empire," Byers landed roles on "All My Children" and "90210." And he's recently nabbed parts in major projects like the Oscar-nominated "Selma."
In "Empire," Byers plays Lyon's eldest son Andre, a college-educated businessman who's determined to head up the family business. Byers' net worth is $1.5 million.
Kaitlin Doubleday Net Worth: $1.5 Million
Doubleday plays Andre Lyon's wife, Rhonda Lyon. Her character is determined to see her husband take his seat at the top of the corporation. In the "Empire" Season 2 finale, Doubleday and co-star Grace Gealey go at each other in a fight that leaves one of them falling off a balcony. Fans will most likely find out who fell in "Empire" Season 3.
Doubleday had a breakout role in the movie "Catch Me If You Can" alongside Leonardo DiCaprio. She has also appeared in a number of TV series, including the "CSI" franchise, "Bones," "Criminal Minds," "Hung" and "Royal Pains." Doubleday's net worth is $1.5 million.
Grace Gealey Net Worth: $2 Million
Grace Gealey plays Anika Calhoun in a breakout role for the actress. In "Empire" Season 1, Anika was Empire's Head of A&R and Lucious Lyon's fiancé, but her character's fate took a dramatic turn in Season 2 when she lost her top spot. When it is revealed that Anika secretly attacked Rhonda, their rivalry explodes into a melee in the Season 2 finale.
Although Gealey's character married Howard's character on the show, she got engaged to co-star Trai Byers in 2015 and married in April 2016. Grace Gealey's net worth totals $2 million.
Naomi Campbell Net Worth: $60 Million
British supermodel and actress Naomi Campbell starred in "Empire" Season 1 as Camilla, Hakeem's lover who was pulling strings behind the scenes. Her character made a surprise return in the Season 2 mid-season finale, bringing major drama to the show. Campbell's net worth is estimated at $60 million.
Marisa Tomei Net Worth: $20 Million
Marisa Tomei is a well-known actress who's starred in movies like "The Wrestler," "The Lincoln Lawyer," "The Big Short" and, of course, "My Cousin Vinny," which earned her an Oscar.
In "Empire," Tomei takes on the role of billionaire investor Mimi Whiteman who inserts herself into the professional and personal sides of Empire Entertainment. Tomei's net worth is $20 million.
Lee Daniels Net Worth: $5 Million
Directing the hit series is Lee Daniels, whose net worth is $5 million. Much of his net worth is probably due to his success on previous projects, including "Shadowboxer," "Precious" and "The Butler." Along with his financial rewards, Daniels has received an Oscar nomination for best director.
Daniels is on a roll thanks to the success of "Empire." In 2017, Fox will air a new show from Daniels called "Star." The new Fox program chronicles the lives and exploits of three singers trying to make it in the industry. If "Empire" and "Star" aren't enough, Daniels got the go-ahead from Fox for another show, which will star standup comedian Ms. Pat, reported Deadline in August.
Danny Strong Net Worth: $5 Million
Not to be outdone, "Empire" co-creator Danny Strong's net worth is also $5 million. Strong has had success as an actor, writer and producer. Most recently, he played recurring roles on TV series such as "Mad Men" and "Justified" and appeared in films such as "Dangerous Minds," "Pleasantville" and "The Butler." He helped write the screenplay for "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay" Parts 1 and 2.
The success of "Empire" helped Strong land an overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television, reported Deadline in June. Per the deal, Strong continues his role as executive producer, as well as frequent writer and director for "Empire." At the same time, the deal ensures Strong gets the opportunity to create and develop new TV shows for 20th Century Fox.
'Empire' Season 1 Guest Stars
Season 1 of "Empire" featured a number of guest stars, and with the success of the program, including:
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Gladys Knight
Anthony Hamilton
Sway Calloway
Raven-Symoné
Estelle
Mary J. Blige
Snoop Dogg
Rita Ora
Juicy J
Patti LaBelle
Courtney Love
Fabolous
Judd Nelson
'Empire' Season 2 Guest Stars
While the producers are conscious of not having the guest stars overshadow the "Empire" story, there were still some pretty big names that joined the cast during Season 2:
Alicia Keys
Rosie O'Donnell
Becky G
Chris Rock
Kelly Rowland
Lenny Kravitz
Ludacris
Ne-Yo
Pitbull
Vivica A. Fox
William Fichtner
Timbaland
'Empire' Season 3 Guest Stars
A full list of 'Empire' Season 3 guest stars hasn't been revealed it. However, Variety reported in late August singer Mariah Carey and "The Cosby Show" alumna Phylicia Rashad will star in the upcoming season. Other guest stars for Season 3 include Sierra McCalin, French Montana and Birdman.
Entertainment Weekly also reports actor Taye Diggs has signed on to star in "Empire" Season 3 as Angelo Dubois, a New York councilman.
"Empire" viewing parties gained popularity in Season 1, with one of the largest events featuring a Cookie makeover station and impersonation contest, according to NPR. With the Season 3 premiere just around the corner, you might want to start planning your own viewing party.
Elyssa Kirkham and Andrew DePietro contributed to this article.
This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: ‘Empire’ Cast Showdown: Taraji P. Henson Net Worth Vs. Terrence Howard Net Worth and More