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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsHow was Penny on the Big Bang Theory able to afford her apartment based on her Cheesecake Factory money.. Just pondering


FirstLight
(15,512 posts)It's part of the reason so m,any people try and keep up with the jonses and put themselves in debt...thinking that somehow that lifestyle is attainable for anyone who can't make over $200K/year or more.
It's all bullshit.
debm55
(48,525 posts)Last edited Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:48 PM - Edit history (2)
think I would get that response. and I am sorry for bringing up a bad personal situation that hurt you.EDIT It was meant to be a fun OP
Eliot Rosewater
(33,192 posts)Kaley Cuoco can never be seen remembering lines and she convinces you shes exactly that person.
Having had a little experience with acting, she really is amazing on that show.
debm55
(48,525 posts)
underpants
(191,549 posts)Highly recommend it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaley_Cuoco
debm55
(48,525 posts)
Bayard
(26,042 posts)
underpants
(191,549 posts)debm55
(48,525 posts)
Bayard
(26,042 posts)walkingman
(9,579 posts)debm55
(48,525 posts)
TommieMommy
(2,200 posts)debm55
(48,525 posts)
BOSSHOG
(43,351 posts)Did all her work undercover and online. No one knew it. The dumb blond routine was an act, a brilliant cover up. On occasion she would pass on top secret data to a customer at the Cheesecake Factory.
debm55
(48,525 posts)
DBoon
(23,978 posts)"Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before!"
Hidden in the basement of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
debm55
(48,525 posts)
House of Roberts
(6,128 posts)That's the only intangible I can find.
debm55
(48,525 posts)
rsdsharp
(11,081 posts)and periodically shed dump Leonard for one of her intellectually challenged ex boy toys.
debm55
(48,525 posts)
edbermac
(16,236 posts)Just pondering.
debm55
(48,525 posts)
hunter
(39,673 posts)debm55
(48,525 posts)
When Penny tagged along with Amy and Sheldon on their first date, Sheldon did the math and figured out she had slept with 31 men. That's a lot of "dates" so was she looking for a mate or doing it for the money?
Inquiring minds want to know.
debm55
(48,525 posts)
snot
(11,207 posts)have lifestyles far beyond what most people I know can afford giant homes in perfectly planned neighborhoods, two cars in the garage, etc.; and many of them hardly seem to work at all.
debm55
(48,525 posts)
diane in sf
(4,166 posts)rurallib
(63,934 posts)the building owner charged very low rents and was even willing to go in the hole to keep his tenants happy.
like that would ever happen
debm55
(48,525 posts)
LogDog75
(647 posts)mwmisses4289
(1,564 posts)This is our standard response whenever we see something in a show or movie that seemed odd or even impossible even for that show or movie.
debm55
(48,525 posts)
FemDemERA
(536 posts)Was in some movies and commercials. She moved in after making a movie. Maybe she got some periodic payments? But she also seemed short of money for things like internet and car repairs, so maybe had just barely enough? They did talk about her money problems in the beginning. Later, she gave up acting for a job at a pharmaceutical company and had more money.
Then again, all the others seemed to have plenty of money and still chose to have roommates.
Great show. First season was the best. Still laugh at reruns
debm55
(48,525 posts)
LogDog75
(647 posts)Leonard and Sheldon shared an apartment therefore rent and utilities. Leonard was an experimental physicist and Sheldon was a rhetorical physicist. When someone asked how much does a physicist make she said not that much. According to GlassDoor a physicist at Caltech in 2025 makes between $108,000 - $183,000. So, in 2006 it would be reasonable to say they each made $50,000 or more.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Caltech-California-Physicist-Salaries-E22139_D_KO19,28.htm
So if Leonard and Sheldon had a combined income of $100,000 or more and had to share an apartment to make ends meet then how is it Penny making minimum wage at the Cheesecake Factory having a fully furnished apartment by herself doesn't make sense. It would make more sense if she had a female roommate to share costs.
It's just the premise of the show and something we, the audience, needn't worry about. Sometimes, we just have to suspend our the reality of the situation and just enjoy the show.