The Hollywood legend William Shatner is speaking out this week to claim that he’s made zero dollars from reruns of his classic 1960s television show Star Trek. This has come as a shock to Shatner’s fans, as Star Trek has been in constant syndication for decades.

Shatner Makes No Money Off Star Trek Reruns

The original Star Trek aired from 1966 until 1969. According to Shatner, this was so early on in television that nobody was counting on decades of syndication yet.

“Nobody knew about reruns,” Shatner, 94, explained to The Telegraph. “The concept of syndication only came in after Star Trek was canceled when someone from the unions said: ‘Wait a minute, you’re replaying all those films, those shows.’”

“There was a big strike,” he continued. “But in the end, the unions secured residual fees shortly after Star Trek finished, so I didn’t benefit.”

Shatner became a massive star after playing the iconic Capt. James T. Kirk on Star Trek during its three year run. Though the show has been off the air for over 55 years, it remains a cult classic to this day. Despite this, Shatner has been open in the past about receiving no residuals for the show.

“Anything before 1973 (that includes Star Trek Original Series) doesn’t pay a cent in royalties,” he wrote to one fan on social media in 2020. “So please don’t think you own me or I owe you something for watching. It doesn’t work like that.”

Shatner Doesn’t Watch Star Trek

Though Star Trek remains incredibly popular, Shatner has never claimed to be a diehard fan of the show. In fact, he’s admitted to only seeing a “few” episodes of his work on the program. Shatner has also “never seen” any of the many Star Trek spinoffs. 

“I’m gonna tell you something that nobody knows. I’ve never seen another Star Trek and I’ve seen as few Star Treks of the show I was on, I’ve seen as few as possible,” Shatner told Entertainment Tonight last year. “I don’t like to look at myself, and I’ve never seen any other. I love it, I think it’s great, I just don’t, you know, I don’t watch television, per se.”

“I’m watching documentaries, I’m watching the news, I’m watching sports, I’m watching things that were, documentaries that were made, but I don’t watch television for some reason,” the former Boston Legal star added. “I’ve been urged to watch certain shows by my family, ‘You’ll love this,’ and I just never get around to it.”

Will Shatner Play Captain Kirk Again?

Shatner has reprised the role of Captain Kirk in various movies over the years. While he’s said that he’d consider playing the role again one more time, Shatner has also warned fans that the chances of this actually happening are slim.

“It’s almost impossible. But it was a great role and so well written,” he told The Canadian Press in May of 2024. “If there were a reason to be there, not just to make a cameo appearance, but if there were a genuine reason for the character appearing, I might consider it.”

Let’s make that happen, Hollywood!

Shatner is a true living legend, and there will never be another one like him. While it’s sad that he hasn’t made money from Star Trek residuals, we can all find comfort in knowing that he’s enjoyed a decades-long career that has left him with a net worth of $100 million. In the end, nobody can complain about that.

God bless you, William Shatner!