# Frasier Crane super rich?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235 "2006-10-20T15:46:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bkoochin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f04885/32.png) [@bkoochin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bkoochin)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/1 "2006-10-20T15:46:00Z")
I was watching a rerun of Frasier the other night and it occurred to me how wealthy this guy was depicted as being. I know he’s supposed to be a Harvard educated psychiatrist but do radio shrinks make that kind of money? It seems like he’s bringing in as much as his brother is, who has his own practice and sees patients on a regular basis, rather than doing fifteen minutes of work a day. Is this realistic? Are radio stations paying educated doctors enough that doing their show is the only thing they need do? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/2 "2006-10-20T15:59:03Z")
It wasn’t just his radio show. He has all sorts of investments, in addition to seminars like “The Crane Train to Mental Fitness” (as seen on _Wings_). He wasn’t hurting. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/3 "2006-10-20T16:01:35Z")
He had a 3-4 hour radio show. On some episodes his agent was setting up sponsorship and advertising deals. A big time radio personality (it’s unclear if that was the case) could easily pull down 6 figues. ---
**Author:** ![Malodorous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47774/32.png) [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/4 "2006-10-20T16:09:55Z")
[QUOTE=bkoochin] I know he’s supposed to be a Harvard educated psychiatrist but do radio shrinks make that kind of money? It seems like he’s bringing in as much as his brother is [/QUOTE] Niles got part of Maris’s money in the divorce, so he’s actually better off then your average Seattle Psychiatrist. Interestingly the other “talent” from the Radio Station don’t seem to have the same kind of money. We see Bulldog’s apartment a couple times, and I don’t remember it being anywhere near as nice as Fraiser’s. Fraiser’s show does seem popular though, he is always getting recognized by strangers based on their having heard the radio show. Perhaps he just has really high ratings and was able to get a higher salary. Or could his show be syndicated? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/5 "2006-10-20T16:16:32Z")
If you’ll notice, probably every network show depicts the characters living in luxury or near-luxury, even if there is no basis for it, the excpetion being shows where the lower class nature of the characters is stressed, i.e Good Times, Roseanne, & Sanford & Son. Steve Harvey has a nice highrise apartment on a teacher’s salary, Idiot Kevin James has a very nice home on a UPS salary, etc. And I know in the 70’s it was probably good money, but Archie Bunker had a two story home while making 5 bucks an hour AND supported three adults and one meathead! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/6 "2006-10-20T16:37:15Z")
Frasier was in private practice for years before returning to Seattle, and probably accumulated a decent portfolio during his _Cheers_ run. He’s probably doing all right in the current gig, too–syndication, endorsements, etc. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/7 "2006-10-20T16:38:37Z")
I always assumed most of his money came from his private practice before he became a radio shrink, and had been wisely invested. He was unemployed for quite a while, and never seemed to be hurting financially at that time. I sincerely doubt a Seattle-based, non-syndicated talk-show host would be able to afford a lifestyle like Frasier’s without other income. ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/8 "2006-10-20T16:55:03Z")
\ He was rich enough to be moved to Cafe Society. \ ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/9 "2006-10-20T16:55:59Z")
UPS guys, even the carriers, make a lot of money for the work they do. Plus doesn’t Hottie wife on the show have a an uppermanagement office job? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/10 "2006-10-20T16:56:39Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] … excpetion being shows where the lower class nature of the characters is stressed, i.e Good Times, Roseanne, & Sanford & Son. .. [/QUOTE] I’ve never understood how a two-story home in the suburbs is supposed to look “lower class”. I always thought Roseanne had a decent place. Same goes for Al Bundy. Seems that even ‘low class’ families on tv get big two story houses. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/11 "2006-10-20T17:00:20Z")
Frasier wasn’t paying Daphne’s salary, either. Early on, an episode showed Niles offering to pay for a home health care worker for Martin in lieu of keeping him at his own palatial home (where Martin and Maris would have fought). ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/12 "2006-10-20T17:06:36Z")
[QUOTE=Malodorous] Niles got part of Maris’s money in the divorce [/QUOTE] Similarly, Frasier might’ve gotten a chunk of dough from Lilith, as she was a successful writer and the manner in which they separated wouldn’t have made her sympathetic to a divorce court judge. Also, Frasier and Niles’ mother was herself a practicing psychiatrist (played by Nancy Marchand in the character’s single non-flashback appearance) so there could easily be serious family money on her side. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/13 "2006-10-20T17:11:59Z")
I seem to recall Frasier’s dad was a research scientist, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/14 "2006-10-20T17:14:08Z")
I don’t think Frasier’s radio show was syndicated. He always opened his show, when we would see him at work, with something like, “Hello, Seattle. I’m listening.” ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/15 "2006-10-20T17:15:50Z")
[QUOTE=Bear\_Nenno] I’ve never understood how a two-story home in the suburbs is supposed to look “lower class”. I always thought Roseanne had a decent place. Same goes for Al Bundy. Seems that even ‘low class’ families on tv get big two story houses. [/QUOTE] At least, the Bundys’ home didn’t look particularly luxurious inside, but you’re right about TV families usually appearing to be richer than they would be IRL. I wonder if you’re from California, where, traditionally, small and average houses were almost always single-storey, outside of exceptional areas like San Francisco and the beachfront areas. Back East, it’s not at all unusual to see very small houses in older neighborhoods that have two storeys. I suspect Frasier would need not just minimal six figures, but at least 200K or 300K to afford that lifestyle in Seattle. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/16 "2006-10-20T17:17:20Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I seem to recall Frasier’s dad was a research scientist, too. [/QUOTE] Frasier’s dad is a retired cop. You must be thinking of some other show. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/17 "2006-10-20T17:17:28Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I seem to recall Frasier’s dad was a research scientist, too. [/QUOTE] Mom was the researcher. Dad was a cop. ---
**Author:** ![Skipper\_Too](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Skipper\_Too](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skipper_Too)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/18 "2006-10-20T17:18:51Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] I seem to recall Frasier’s dad was a research scientist, too. [/QUOTE] I think he was a retired or on disability from the police department ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/19 "2006-10-20T17:20:00Z")
Frasier’s dad was a retired police detective. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235/20 "2006-10-20T17:21:42Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] If you’ll notice, probably every network show depicts the characters living in luxury or near-luxury, even if there is no basis for it, the excpetion being shows where the lower class nature of the characters is stressed, i.e Good Times, Roseanne, & Sanford & Son. Steve Harvey has a nice highrise apartment on a teacher’s salary, Idiot Kevin James has a very nice home on a UPS salary, etc. And I know in the 70’s it was probably good money, but Archie Bunker had a two story home while making 5 bucks an hour AND supported three adults and one meathead! [/QUOTE] Sometimes characters move up during the course of a show; sometime during the run of _Mary Tyler Moore_ her character moved from the one-room apartment to a high-rise, and I don’t think her salary at the TV station was ever supposed to be going up a great deal. Odd, I really liked that show but all I remember about her moving is when she put the big “M” up in the new place. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/frasier-crane-super-rich/377235.md?page=2)