Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders React to Team’s Pay Raise

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Jada McLean is celebrating a huge step forward for her cheer squad.

After uniting with her fellow Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders to campaign for an approximately fourfold increase in pay prior to the 2025 NFL season, the 25-year-old explained that the team’s pursuit of fair compensation was not just about boosting their earnings but also encompassed a broader mission.

Jada shared with TopMob News during the Netflix Summer Break event in Santa Monica, Calif., on July 17, that her focus wasn’t primarily on herself but rather on the future generations of women. She wanted to ensure that she improved the organization for them, and one aspect she prioritized was making sure they had more financial comfort. This was a challenge she personally faced while being part of the team.

The sports personality, featured in the Netflix series “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders“, later remarked that the wage rise would offer future team members a genuine opportunity to fully capitalize on their time with the squad.

The athlete, previously featured in the Netflix documentary “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders,” later pointed out that the wage rise would offer future team members an opportunity to fully capitalize on their time with the squad.

She went on to say, “I certainly feel proud not only of myself but also the girls who assisted me. Yet, what I truly yearn for is for those young women in the future to enjoy even greater joy and excitement within this team.

In June, Jada shared with The New York Times that she was earning around $15 an hour in 2024, a figure that could change depending on experience. However, a recent increase in pay means veterans can now potentially earn over $75 an hour in the future. It’s worth noting that others are already experiencing the positive impact of Jada and her team’s activism.

Last year, Kelly Villares was a novice on her team,” she shared with TopMob at the Netflix event. “I’d only just joined the squad. I’m still giving it my all, striving to perform at my best. Having someone like Jada, who isn’t afraid to take a stand for what’s right, is incredibly valuable. She serves as an inspiration, encouraging me to aspire to one day lead the team in doing the same.

Keep reading to see what more stars have said about their earnings…

–Reporting by Victoria Berggren and Olivia Thompson

Jenna Johnson, winner of season 33, mentioned that although there isn’t a monetary reward for winning the mirrorball trophy on Dancing With the Stars, contestants who reach the finale will continue to receive payment until then. Additionally, she noted that they also receive a significant bonus.

If you emerge victorious, Johnson explained that while professional contracts are based on seniority, it’s important to clarify that winning doesn’t equate to a million-dollar prize. Instead, you’ll receive a commemorative trophy. For those who exit the ballroom earlier in the competition, they can expect a guaranteed minimum stipend for a specific number of weeks, according to her explanation.

It is worth noting that, based on various sources, dancers typically start with an earnings range of $1,200 to $1,600 per episode, which can escalate up to a potential $100,000 for the entire season (although ABC has not confirmed these figures). In contrast, celebrities begin with a salary of $125,000. As they progress deeper into the competition, stars receive additional incentives, with semifinalists and finalists potentially earning an extra $50,000.

Jennifer Lawrence, who won an Oscar, received a paycheck of $25 million to act in Adam McKay’s ensemble comedy about disaster titled “Don’t Look Up”. However, her co-star and fellow Oscar laureate, Leonardo DiCaprio, earned $30 million for his role.

In an interview with Vanity Fair for their December 2020/January 2021 issue, Lawrence stated, “Leo earns more at the box office than I do.” She continued, “I’m very content with my contract. However, I’ve noticed in other situations that it can be awkward to ask about equal pay. And if you do bring up something that seems unfair, you’re often told it’s not due to gender differences, but they can’t explain what else it could be.

Her optimistic outlook on life was earned through struggle: When it was exposed in the 2014 Sony email leak that there was a significant difference between Lawrence’s salary and her male co-stars for the film American Hustle in 2013, it ignited a broad discussion within the Hollywood industry about the issue of gender wage inequality.

In an interview with Channel 4 News in the U.K. back in 2017, Lawrence expressed her gratitude for having her job. However, she clarified that she doesn’t have financial concerns. Instead, what upset her was the lack of fairness and inequality she observed.

In stark contrast to Leonardo DiCaprio’s earnings: Jonah Hill reportedly received $60,000 (pre-commissions and taxes) for his role in 2013’s “The Wolf of Wall Street,” whereas the film’s main character pocketed a cool $10 million.

Hill stated on The Howard Stern Show in 2014 that they received the smallest amount of money as a payment. However, the opportunity to act in a Martin Scorsese film was too appealing, so the Moneyball star was determined to seal the agreement before someone else could back out.

Hill stated, “I’d give up my house and every penny I own to work with Scorsese,” he shared, who received his second Best Supporting Actor nomination for portraying a nervous, drug-addled stockbroker. “Money isn’t the purpose here. You could do movies like ’22 Jump Street’ or others to cover expenses, but this opportunity… I would have done anything, and I’d do it again. It’s not about the money; it’s about doing what you value.

Oprah Winfrey happily accepted only a little bit of green to star in 1985’s The Color Purple.

In an interview with Essence in 2023, the media tycoon shared that they were offered just $35,000 for a role in a film, which he considered to be the most valuable $35,000 he ever made. He added that this experience transformed his life and taught him numerous lessons.

In the 1997 movie biography of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla titled “Selena,” Jennifer Lopez made history as the first Latin actress to receive a million dollars for her role in a film.

In an interview with Variety back in 2019, Lopez recalled feeling quite young and confused about the events surrounding her breakout movie. She added, “Receiving a million dollars from them was fantastic. It felt like everyone was sending a powerful message.

Consequently, this opened up opportunities for her to earn many more hundreds of millions, with some instances where her involvement didn’t require any monetary investment.

Lopez shared with GQ in 2019 that he does things out of passion rather than financial gain. He didn’t earn a large sum for Hustlers; instead, he did it at no cost and even produced it himself. Essentially, he trusts and invests in himself, much like the character from Jenny From the Block—he pursues what he loves.

Adrien Brody didn’t star in “The Brutalist” for financial gain. Instead, he accepted the part of a tormented Hungarian architect in post-WWII America for $250,000, ultimately winning his second Oscar as Best Actor.

As a die-hard enthusiast, I’m yearning for a studio film production right now, as I’ve poured my heart and soul into it – much like the transformation of the upstate New York barn into a fairytale castle that I’ve been working on diligently.

Pete Davidson jokingly commented to New York magazine about what he earned from Saturday Night Live when asked prior to their 50th anniversary special about how he spent his money upon being hired at the age of 20 in 2014. “It’s around $3,000 per episode,” Pete said, “so I guess I treated myself to dinner.

It’s noteworthy that the starting salaries for SNL newcomers have kept a consistent ratio over time. Originally, stars like John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, and Chevy Chase were each paid $750 per episode in 1975. This translates to approximately $3,300 in 2014 using the Consumer Price Index Inflation calculator. If we extrapolate this to 2025, their earnings would have been equivalent to about $4,428 based on inflation rates.

Currently, Kenan Thompson earns significantly more than $3,000 per episode of SNL, given that he’s in his unprecedented 22nd season. However, like many who’ve made it big, he once began with humble beginnings on Nickelodeon.

In Demi Lovato’s 2024 documentary, ‘Child Star’, the All That alum shared that the first commercial they got paid for amounted to $800 when they were just 12 years old. They mentioned it felt like a million dollars at the time.

It turns out Gilmore Girls’ status as a beloved rewatchable classic is literally priceless.

Lauren Graham, who portrayed Lorelai Gilmore for seven seasons and later returned for ‘Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life’ (2016), stated on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ in March 2025 that there are no royalties from Netflix. However, she mentioned that she has been compensated with affection and admiration instead.

During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, Tommy Dorfman openly discussed her earnings from the show “13 Reasons Why” due to feelings of underappreciation. This strike was partially motivated by streaming platforms like Netflix not regularly providing extra compensation to cast and crew when a series becomes successful.

In a post on Threads dated July 24, Dorfman shared that her earnings from the entire first season of 13 Reasons Why amounted to $29,953.24 before deducting agency and manager fees (a total of 20%) as well as taxes. This was for 8 episodes spread over a period of six months. She further explained that she did all the promotional work and had key art for the show, traveled round trip from NYC to SF for each episode shoot, and was kept for extended periods without pay or insurance. She barely qualified for insurance.

In his words, “Dorfman stated that during the initial 28 days following its premiere, Season 1 of our show accumulated a grand total of 476 million view hours. This is the reason behind our firm stance.

On his podcast, Dax Shepard subtly shared with Lauren Graham, a former co-star from ‘Parenthood’, that during their run on the NBC series, he was among the lowest paid actors in the cast.

But, the Armchair Expert host stressed that he did not mind.

He shared that before becoming a parent, he always took the initiative to discover how much everyone in their respective roles earned. He either managed to learn this through casual conversations with colleagues or by discreetly getting information from agents.

Instead of deliberately looking for information regarding his lineage related to Parenthood, he chose to avoid it, which made the experience more enjoyable, even when he occasionally got a hint about his position in the salary hierarchy.

George Clooney mentioned to the Los Angeles Times in 2005 that he personally invested a dollar to produce his film “Good Night, and Good Luck.” To achieve this, he had to cash a check with his signature as director and give up his acting salary. Co-writer and co-producer Grant Heslov also earned a dollar for their contributions.

The passionate work focusing on CBS News journalist Edward R. Murrow standing up to authority in the 1950s has proven to be quite successful: Clooney is set to make his Broadway debut by portraying Murrow in a stage adaptation of the film. Notably, during its preview week before its official opening on April 3, the play managed to earn an impressive $3.3 million (a record for a non-musical production), indicating that Clooney is earning significantly more than $1.

In the chilling role of Patrick Bateman in the 2000’s film “American Psycho”, Christian Bale admitted that he was only paid the lowest amount legally permissible because most of the production team didn’t want to hire him, except for director Mary Harron. He shared this during an interview with GQ in 2022.

In simpler terms, Bale mentioned that he earned very little, which led him to a point where makeup artists would chuckle at him in the makeup room since his paycheck was smaller compared to theirs.

Although his uncle might be named Rico, Jon Heder revealed in 2010 that he was initially compensated with just $1,000 for his role in the movie Napoleon Dynamite at first.

Following the unexpected success of his offbeat comedy, he managed to renegotiate for a share of the earnings, explaining to the New Zealand Herald, “They increased slightly.

Djimon Hounsou openly stated that he feels unfairly compensated in Hollywood, given his impressive resume which includes movies like “Amistad” and “Blood Diamond.

In an interview with Larry Madowo for CNN in January 2025, the Beninese actor expressed that despite being involved in the film industry for more than two decades, having received two Oscar nominations and starring in numerous blockbuster movies, he is still grappling financially to sustain his living.

In her 2024 memoir “Rebel Rising”, Rebel Wilson shared that she was given $3,500 for her role in Bridesmaids, a sum which she had to use to become a union member with the Screen Actors Guild. Essentially, this meant she received no actual payment for her work on the film.

Still, she wrote, the experience was “everything!”

The Australian actress’s fame soared significantly, as her earnings skyrocketed from the SAG minimum wage of $65,000 for “Pitch Perfect” in 2012, reaching a staggering $10 million for “Pitch Perfect 3” in 2017. Wilson stated that she earned a total of $20 million for the third installment, “Isn’t It Romantic,” and “The Hustle,” though it is important to note that she lost nearly half of this to taxes, 10% to agents, and another 5% to her lawyer. Despite these expenses, as well as paying her publicist, business manager, and assistant, Wilson ended up with a substantial amount of money, which she referred to as a significant fortune.

Towards the end of 2017, actress Ellen Pompeo successfully renegotiated her contract for “Grey’s Anatomy,” securing a salary of about $575,000 per episode and a substantial signing bonus worth over a million dollars. Additionally, she earned two full equity points in the backend, which could potentially bring her an extra $6 million to $7 million.

2018 saw Pompeo expressing in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that at the age of 48, she’s confident enough to demand what she rightfully deserves. She acknowledged that due to her long-standing role for 14 years, the industry might perceive her as less relevant. However, Pompeo asserted that being good on a show for 14 years isn’t just about talent, it’s about a unique skill – one that not everyone possesses.

More recently, Ellen Pompeo acknowledged that throughout their time together on the show, she was earning less than Patrick Dempsey, despite being ‘Grey’. However, she made it clear that she did not resent him for his earnings.

In a March 2025 episode of Call Her Daddy, she expressed, “Since I was the namesake of the show, I felt I deserved equal treatment. It was frustrating that I didn’t receive it. I wasn’t resentful about what he received. I was resentful because they didn’t appreciate me as much as they appreciated him, and they never will.

As a lifestyle expert looking back, I can’t forget the time when I earned $2,000 per week, equating to a total of $8,000, for my debut role in the 1978 classic, Halloween. However, let me clarify, it wasn’t just me who was left unpaid; it seemed like everyone involved in that project received little to nothing in return. I shared this anecdote with Rotten Tomatoes back in 2018.

Although actress Jamie Lee Curtis received four-figure earnings, John Carpenter’s associate Nick Castle felt like royalty earning just $25 daily to co-play the character of Michael Myers. It was Anthony Moran whose visage appeared when the masked killer momentarily unmasked, and editor Tommy Lee Wallace also accumulated screen time as Michael Myers.

Back then, it was quite an experience!” Castle, a fellow USC film school alumnus of Carpenter, shared with Vanity Fair in 2018. “It’s essential to recall: My motivation for the movie was simply being on set to grasp the filmmaking and directing process better. I assumed I would just hang around without pay. But who would have thought, right? $25 a day, and all I needed to do was wear a rubber mask.

Taraji P. Henson was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2008’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” but even years later, she remained passionate about the $150,000 she received for the role—a paycheck that came after producers declined her initial request of $500,000.

In the realm of cinematic excellence, I can’t help but gush over the unparalleled pairing of none other than Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett in our beloved film. You wouldn’t believe the astronomical figures that were bandied about during their time – $20 million quotes, no less! It was a different era, mind you, where such exorbitant fees were being tossed around. And truly, they deserved every penny of it. I mean, who am I to question their worth?

In my passionate enthusiasm, I shared with them that I’d contribute a specific sum for the ticket sales as well, feeling my request was reasonable given where I stood in my career. However, they didn’t get it, and I couldn’t bring myself to be part of such a monumental project without fair compensation. The blow was heavy when they initially offered only $100,000; but in the end, after swallowing my pride, I walked away with $150,000. Henson.

Essentially, Henson stated, “People often say, ‘150,000 dollars is a large amount!’ But I don’t want anyone to think I’m ungrateful because that’s not my character.” She then explained, “When you consider that half of it goes to the government, that leaves around 75,000. Before taxes are deducted, I have to pay my team 30%. So after the government takes its 50% and my team takes another 30%, I’m left with roughly 40,000 dollars.

Despite Cate Blanchett amassing significant wealth throughout her career, it’s important to note that not all of her earnings stem from portraying the royal elf Galadriel in the The Lord of the Rings series, which raked in a staggering $2.9 billion at global box offices.

Can’t you see I’m flabbergasted? Absolutely not!” I exclaimed on Watch What Happens Live in August 2024, when Andy Cohen suggested that The Lord of the Rings was my biggest paycheck. “Not a single soul was compensated for that movie…I mean, I essentially got lunch on the house, and I got to keep my elf ears as a keepsake.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: In an interview on The Howard Stern Show in 2023, Orlando Bloom, the man who brought Legolas, the elven warrior, to life, revealed that he earned just $175,000 for the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy – a surprising amount given the enduring impact these films have had on pop culture.

Hopefully he also got to keep his ears.

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2025-07-22 19:49