With the writers’ strike over, a real question emerges – how much did the strike cost?

According to an article on E!, the strike cost an amazing 2.5 billion USD.

A report released Wednesday by Jack Kyser, the chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., has revealed that the three-month walkout by film and TV writers took a heavier toll on Tinseltown’s bottom line than predicted—$2.5 billion in lost show business.

The 71-page study, dubbed the Economic Forecast Report, concluded that the writers’ strike, which started Nov. 5 and ended last week, resulted in millions of dollars in lost wages for the cast and crews of shuttered film and television productions.

A follow-up strike, however, is not out of the question as SAG leaders have expressed determination to lead tough negotiations.