Jim Parsons, who emerged as the comedy’s standout actor, was reportedly offered north of $50 million to stay on for Season 13 and 14, per Vanity Fair. An eight-figure salary didn’t tempt the actor, who was eager to sign off and say goodbye to Sheldon Cooper, a character he occupied for most of his career. For Parsons, leaving “The Big Bang Theory” was an important decision, telling David Tenant on his podcast that it was a matter of utilizing his time more efficiently, revealing that his father died at the age of 52. At the time, Parsons was a few years his junior, ready to think about his morality. “I said, ‘If you told me that like my father, I had six years left to live, I think there’s other things I need to try and do,'” the actor said.
Leaving “The Big Bang Theory” has freed up Parsons’ time, allowing him to explore a variety of different characters. While it may have been nerve-wracking for Parsons to leave Sheldon Cooper behind, he’s made peace with his decision to retire the character. “I definitely am at peace with it,” the actor told The Washington Post. “… I see that whole 12 years on ‘Big Bang’ as such a glorious, creatively prosperous time.” While the series may have been a formative experience, Parsons is grateful that he’s in a position to take on projects like “Spoiler Alert,” saying he “really love[s] [his] life as it is right now.”