Summary

ManyThe Young and the Restlessfans want to know whatEric Braedenreceives as his salary per episode, considering his veteran status on the soap opera and overall impressive net worth. Braeden began appearing onthe long-running TV showin 1980 as Victor Newman. What somefans ofThe Young and the Restlessmay not knowis that Victor was only supposed to be a guest character but Braeden’s performance was so effective, they decided to keep him around, a sign of his talents as an actor.

This talent is what earned Braeden plenty of non-soap opera opportunities, including starring in the TV showThe Rat Patrolas Captain Hans Dietrich, playing multiple characters inGunsmoke, and having a recurring part inCombat!His film credits includeTitanicas John Jacob Astor IV andEscape from the Planet of the Apesas Dr. Otto Hasslein. He remains married to his college sweetheart, Dale Russell, whom he wed in 1966, and his life of performances in soaps and other productions has netted him a significant net worth.

Collage of Phyllis (Katherine Stafford) in The Young and the Restless.

Phyllis' Fake Young And The Restless Death Proves She Isn’t Leaving Anytime Soon

After Phyllis' fake death, fans of the soap opera were asking, “Is Phyllis leaving The Young and the Restless?” and they were right to wonder.

It’s Unknown How Much Eric Braeden Makes Per Y&R Episode

Braeden Has A Net Worth Of $20 Million

While Eric Braeden’s salary per episode ofThe Young and the Restlesshas not been released to the public,it’s known that the actor has a net worth of $20 million(viaCelebrity Net Worth). Braeden has appeared in over 4000 episodes ofThe Young and the Restless, as well as nearly 100 productions altogether. This is a significant amount of work and his large fortune begins to make more sense after looking at that filmography.

Braeden also renegotiated hisThe Young and Restlesscontract in 2012 and likely began earning significantly more per episode at that point.

Victor Newman (Eric Braeden) talking with his hands folded in The Young and the Restless.

Braeden also renegotiated hisThe Young and Restlesscontract in 2012 and likely began earning significantly more per episode at that point (viaEW). Braeden’s $20 million fortune makes him one of the richest soap opera stars of all time (viaLooper), only being surpassed by a handful of other actors.

Eric Braeden’s Age & Height

Braeden Is An Aries

Eric Braeden was born on Jun 10, 2025, in Bredenbek, Germany, as Hans-Jörg Gudegast, making him 83 in the summer of 2024. Braeden changed his name in the 1960s when Lew Wasserman of Universal Pictures told him no one would hire him with his German-sounding name (viaUniversity of Montana). Braeden is listed as 6' 1" onIMDbbut 6' 2" onSoapCentral, so 6' 1 1/2" is likely an accurate assumption.

Eric Braeden’s son goes by his given name, Christian Gudegast, and directed Eric onDen of Thieves.

Titanic deleted scene of John Jacob Astor (Eric Braeden) shaking Benjamin Guggenheim’s (Michael Ensign) hand.

Braeden is an Aries, the first sign of the Zodiac, and a fire sign in the shape of a ram. According toAllure, Aries signs are bold and ambitious, and Braeden certainly displayed those traits when he decided he wanted to be a movie and TV star in America as a German, only a few years after WWII. Aries signs are upbeat and positive and enjoy living life to the fullest. With Braeden’s long career of roles, he’s clearly packed in as much as possible.

Eric Braeden Survived The Sinking Of The MV Wilhelm Gustloff During WWII

Braeden Then Went On To Appear In A Movie About A Sinking Ship

Braeden discusses in his autobiography,I’ll Be Damned, thathe was on the civilian ship MV Wilhelm Gustloff when it was sunk in 1945. This ship was filled with German civilians and soldiers fleeing the approaching Russians towards the end of the war. However, the Russian navy was waiting in the Baltic Sea and sank the ship, claiming over 9000 lives (viaSmithsonian Magazine).

It’s a tragedy thatEric Braedenthankfully managed to survive and one he paid homage to when he appeared in James Cameron’sTitanicas the real-life John Jacob Astor IV. Astor died on the luxury liner and the character can be last seen grabbing a pillar as the dome collapses and, in a deleted scene, shaking Benjamin Guggenheim’s (Michael Ensign) hand.

The Young And The Restless

Cast

The Young and the Restless is a daytime television drama series that explores the intertwined lives and complex relationships of the residents of Genoa City. Premiering in 1973, the serial centers on the influential Newman, Abbott, Baldwin, and Winters families as they navigate love, ambition, and power struggles.