4 Years Later, Angela Bassett's History-Making 9-1-1 Record Still Hasn't Been Broken

As one of the show’s “founding” characters, Grant has an understandably huge impact on the world of 9-1-1. While she may not be a formal part of the central 118, her continual support makes her a surrogate member of the close-knit crew. Off-screen, Angela Bassett is also the highest-paid member of the show’s expansive cast.

Angela Bassett Portrays Sergeant Athena Grant on 9-1-1

• Athena’s badge number, 1275, is a reference to I-275. Though seemingly insignificant, this thoroughfare is one of the major arteries running through Bassett’s hometown of Saint Petersburg, Florida.

These facts, among many others, make Athena one of the show’s most intriguing characters. They also enmesh her in the lives of the beloved 188, even after Bobby’s tragic death at the end of Season 8. While some believe otherwise, there are plenty of story-related reasons for Athena to stick around. There’s also some considerable behind-the-scenes motivation for actress Angela Bassett to stick around.

Angela Bassett Is the Highest-Paid Member of 9-1-1’s Cast

• Despite playing one of the leading roles, actor Peter Krause’s pay per episode topped out at $300,000. Though considerable, this hefty paycheck still falls short of Bassett’s.

In 2021, Deadline reported Bassett had secured a contract guaranteeing her a whopping $450,000 per episode. While no update has been given since then, it’s safe to assume her salary has risen. That’s a tidy sum for anyone, of course, but it’s particularly ground-breaking for Bassett, an already prominent woman of color. Unfortunately, despite contrary on-screen evidence, the entertainment industry still has some distressingly vast wealth gaps. Women are already paid less than their male counterparts, and women of color — particularly Black women — get an even smaller cut of an already downsized pie.