Adult film stars are sharing how much they earn, and the numbers might surprise you.
Lana Rhoades, who joined the industry at 19, revealed that she was paid very little in her early career. After just eight months in the industry, she said her earnings felt like “pickles” for the scenes she filmed.
Other performers, however, say the industry has given them financial freedom they couldn’t find elsewhere. This has sparked a bigger conversation about how much adult film stars actually earn.
How Much Do Adult Film Stars Earn?
Opinions about the adult film industry vary widely. Critics and performers both point out the lack of protections and inconsistent pay, but others praise the opportunities it provides.
Steven Hirsch, the owner of Vivid, one of the biggest adult studios, told CNBC that newcomers usually earn higher rates because they bring a novelty factor. However, long-term earnings depend on how popular the performer is.
For a typical sex scene between a man and a woman, pay ranges from $800 to $1,000. However, newcomers with little representation might earn as low as $300.
More experienced or popular actors can earn between $1,500 and $2,000 per scene. For more intense or extreme acts, performers can make $1,800 to $2,500.
Derek Hay, the founder of LA Direct Models, said that some performers earn $2,000 to $6,000 for shooting their first scenes involving multiple partners.
Male performers are typically paid less. Most earn around $500-600 per scene. The best-known male stars might make up to $1,500, but this is rare.
Franco Roccaforte, a male performer from the 90s, said he used to make about $16,000 per month. Now, he won’t accept less than $1,000 per scene.
Derek Hay noted that while adult stars don’t make as much as people think, top performers can still earn $300,000-400,000 per year, which many people would still consider a lot.
