How much do porn stars get paid, does it differ by country and how do you become a porn star?
The porn industry is estimated to be worth a whopping £15 billion. Those at the top can rake in hundreds of thousands a year, while newer performers can be paid as little as £240 per film. Here’s what we know.
1
How much do porn stars get paid?
In general, male actors earn less than female actresses in the porn industry. It is difficult to generalise how much porn actors get paid, as there are few rules and there is a big difference between those just starting out in their careers and established adult stars. Those behind the raunchy scenes are not paid nearly as much as their counterparts in Hollywood, despite the industry’s multi-billion pound price tag. That is according to LA Direct Models founder Derek Hay, a man who represents many top adult performers and has worked as an actor himself.
In 2017, he told The Independent that a female actress could expect to earn £800 for a scene with a man, and £550 for a scene with another woman. That said, this salary can vary by 10-20 percent depending on who the performer is and how well-known they are. Jobs in the porn industry are not as lucrative as people might expect, even for performers who are at the height of their powers. Derek added: “I don’t think adult stars earn as much money as the general public think they do.
“I don’t think there’s anyone, even the biggest stars, who earns more than half a million a year. “But when some of the top stars earn £240,000 to £320,000 a year, that’s still a lot of money in most people’s eyes, I think.”
Derek said it was a “universally known” fact that women get paid “a lot more” than men – but men get the chance to do more jobs. Actors also earn premium rates as an incentive to do scenes they haven’t done before.
Who are the richest porn stars?
According to Celebritynetworth.com, the highest paid female porn star is Sunny Leone – who is also the richest adult film actress in the world. As well as a net worth of over a whopping $16 million – around £12 million – she has also built up a loyal fan base on Instagram. As for the men, Pennsylvania native Johnny Sins reportedly comes out on top with an estimated net worth of $5 million.
Do porn stars earn more in other countries?
While size doesn’t always matter, the location of the producer does. Porn stars make less in Eastern Europe and Russia than those in LA or Western Europe, such as France, Germany, and Italy. There are also laws in different countries around what age they can be and what type of content they can produce, so banning certain scenes can reduce the amount of money you make from the film itself.
How do you become a porn star?
According to Buttercamlord, there are a number of adult production companies that are looking for models and actors to feature in their content – both photos and videos. You will usually get paid for your first shoot, which will then be published on a website to get your name out there. That exposure will help boost your name in the industry, and these days, many porn stars are taking to social media to boost their profile, as a more well-known name will attract more viewers, making them more attractive to producers.
Everything you need to know about porn stars
The porn industry’s top stars and insider news
