William Shatner Reveals Zero Earnings From Star Trek Reruns

William Shatner, renowned for his role as Captain James T. Kirk in the original Star Trek series, revealed that he has never earned residuals from the show's reruns due to syndication contracts not existing at the time of the series' original run from 1966 to 1969. Syndication and residual fees were only introduced after Star Trek was canceled, and unions secured these fees too late for Shatner to benefit, as contracts before 1973 did not include royalties. Despite the show's enduring popularity and cultural impact, Shatner has admitted to watching very few episodes of Star Trek, including no spin-offs, as he prefers not to watch himself on screen. Beyond Star Trek, Shatner has maintained a diverse career and continues to work actively in entertainment, including co-creating and starring in the upcoming holiday series Family Tree. Shatner's candidness about his financial experience with Star Trek sheds light on television industry practices in the 1960s and his complex relationship with the franchise that made him a pop culture icon. The actor, now 94, remains a celebrated figure whose legacy is intertwined with Star Trek's lasting influence.