Drake Bell Shares How Much Money He Makes From Drake & Josh Residuals

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Drake Bell isn’t seeing the dollar signs.

The former star of “Drake & Josh,” according to him, debunked a widespread misunderstanding regarding his tenure at Nickelodeon and the financial remuneration he received for being a top-tier actor on the channel.

Drake, age 39, stated during the July 2nd episode of the ‘Unplanned’ podcast that people often assume, ‘Because you made a Folgers coffee commercial, you must reside in a lavish Hollywood mansion. I recognized you on TV; you’re wealthy.’ However, this is not accurate at all. This is disappointing because, unlike many of us who worked on Nickelodeon, we don’t receive royalties for our shows.

During his four-season stint with Josh Peck in that series, Drake remarked that typically, guest stars receive a bigger payoff from their appearances compared to him.

He stated, “On one episode, some individuals mentioned two phrases that are still receiving payments; however, Josh and I have received no money from it.

In fact, the former star of the “Amanda Show” explained the disparity between himself and other actors who continue to receive payments, even though their shows have been off the air for a significant amount of time.

According to Drake, everyone involved in television work receives payments called residuals. Essentially, this is the main source of income. The goal is to reach 100 episodes, as this allows for syndication. And once a show is in syndication, that’s when you start earning residual income.

In my line of work as a lifestyle expert, I’ve noticed that those who work behind the scenes in television production often receive royalties whenever their shows are broadcast. However, unfortunately, for us, there’s no such arrangement. We don’t get any compensation when our shows air.

Despite the fact that “Drake & Josh” has found a place on streaming platforms, as per Drake, he’s still finding it challenging to manage his finances.

He mentioned that there are three different stations airing marathons of ‘Drake & Josh.’ Netflix recently acquired it, and it’s currently ranked in the top ten on their platform. However, I still need to find a way to cover my rent this month. Many people don’t realize the behind-the-scenes aspects of this industry. They only see the glamorous side of Hollywood depicted on social media.

Without a doubt, Drake has always been open about his childhood experiences and the difficulties that arise from growing up under public scrutiny. One of these challenges, according to him, is having to figure out the entertainment world independently.

In an interview with People in March, Drake expressed that life throws you into the world without any instructions, saying, “You’re left among wolves, yet expected to choose your path wisely, act appropriately, and succeed all on your own, without anyone showing you the way.

Keep reading for more stars who have been candid about their paychecks…

Jenna Johnson, winner of season 33, revealed that although there’s no monetary reward for winning the mirrorball trophy on Dancing With the Stars, contestants who reach the finale will continue to receive payment. Additionally, they also receive a significant bonus as an added incentive.

If you emerge victorious, Johnson pointed out that professional contracts are based on seniority, so it’s not as if you receive a large sum of money like a million dollars. Instead, you’ll just get an attractive trophy. For those who leave the ballroom early, they will be assured of a certain number of weeks’ pay.

In other reports, dancers begin earning around $1,200 to $1,600 per episode, which can reach up to $100,000 per season (though ABC has yet to confirm these figures). However, celebrities start with a salary of $125,000. As they progress deeper into the competition, stars receive additional bonuses, with semifinalists and finalists potentially earning up to an extra $50,000.

Jennifer Lawrence, a previous Academy Award recipient, received a paycheck of $25 million to appear in Adam McKay’s ensemble comedy about disaster titled “Don’t Look Up”. However, her co-star and fellow Academy Award winner, Leonardo DiCaprio, earned $30 million for the same role.

In an interview with Vanity Fair for the December 2020/January 2021 issue, Lawrence stated, “Leo earns more at the box office than I do.” She added, “I’m very content and grateful for my contract. However, in other instances, it’s uncomfortable to ask about equal pay, and if you do, you’re often told it’s not due to gender disparity, but they can’t explain what the reason is instead.

Her optimistic demeanor wasn’t given easily: The disclosure in 2014 of the salary disparity between Lawrence and her male co-stars in the 2013 film American Hustle, obtained through the Sony email hack, sparked a broader discussion about the wage gap issue in Hollywood.

In an interview with Channel 4 News in the UK back in 2017, Lawrence expressed his gratitude for having his job. However, he clarified that his concern isn’t about money, but rather the unjustness and disparity he witnessed. He wasn’t upset about receiving a certain amount of millions for a movie; instead, he found it absurd. What truly angered him was the unfairness and inequality he encountered.

In contrast to DiCaprio’s earnings, Jonah Hill received around $60,000 (excluding commissions and taxes) for his role in “The Wolf of Wall Street” in 2013, whereas the film’s main character earned a staggering $10 million.

In 2014, on The Howard Stern Show, he mentioned that they offered him the smallest amount of money imaginable. However, it was an opportunity to be in a Martin Scorsese film, and since he had previously worked on Moneyball, he wanted to secure the agreement before anyone could reconsider.

In my fervent enthusiasm, I declared, “I’d give up my home and every penny I own just to work under Scorsese’s guidance.” It’s not about accumulating wealth or starring in films like 22 Jump Street. Money can help you cover your expenses. But this? This is about doing what you deeply care for. If given the chance, I’d do it all over again without hesitation. It’s not about the money; it’s about following your passions.

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

In a conversation with Essence in 2023, the billionaire media magnate shared that they were given $35,000 for being part of a film, an opportunity he considers as the most valuable $35,000 he’s ever made. He added that it had a profound impact on his life and taught him many lessons.

In the 1997 movie biography of Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla, Jennifer Lopez was the first Latina actress to receive a million dollars for her role in a film.

In an interview with Variety back in 2019, Lopez shared that at the time of her breakout film, she was still young and naive about the situation. She added that receiving a million dollars for the role felt amazing, as if everyone was sending a powerful message.

Through this, she was able to create opportunities that led to earning hundreds of millions more, with many instances where her involvement didn’t require any financial investment.

Lopez shared with GQ in 2019 that he performs tasks out of passion rather than financial gain. He didn’t earn much for Hustlers; instead, he did it at no cost and even produced it himself. Essentially, he relies on his own abilities, similar to how Jenny From the Block operates – he does what he enjoys.

Adrien Brody didn’t star in “The Brutalist” for financial gain. Instead, he portrayed a Hungarian architect grappling with his art in post-World War II America for $250,000 and earned his second Oscar for Best Actor.

As I stand amidst my labor of love, the castle-like barn I’ve been restoring in upstate New York, I can’t help but feel the urge to return to the studio and bring my passion to life on the big screen once more,” Brody shared with Variety, expressing his longing for a new movie project.

Pete Davidson jokingly shared with New York magazine before the 50th anniversary special of Saturday Night Live that when he first joined the show at the age of 20 in 2014, he would splurge on dinner since each episode paid him around $3,000.

Remarkably, salaries for SNL newcomers have consistently remained equal. For instance, stars from the first season like John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, and Chevy Chase were paid $750 per episode in 1975. This amounts to approximately $3,300 in 2014, as calculated by the Consumer Price Index Inflation calculator. However, it’s worth noting that this same $750 from 1975 would be equivalent to about $4,428 in 2025 when adjusted for inflation.

In his current 22nd season on SNL, Kenan Thompson earns significantly more than $3,000 per episode, but as a former Nickelodeon star, he had humble beginnings and needed to start somewhere.

In Demi Lovato’s 2024 documentary “Child Star”, the All That alum reminisced about their first commercial paycheck, stating it was $800. At just 12 years old, this amount felt like a fortune to them, as if it were a million dollars.

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

On Jimmy Kimmel Live in March 2025, Lauren Graham, known for her role as Lorelai Gilmore over seven seasons and a subsequent return in 2016’s Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, stated that there are no residuals on Netflix. However, she mentioned that she has been compensated with love and appreciation instead.

Tommy Dorfman openly discussed her earnings from “13 Reasons Why” during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, an event initiated in part due to streaming platforms such as Netflix not typically providing extra remuneration to actors and crew when a show gains popularity.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it like this: “During my first season on the hit series ’13 Reasons Why’, I earned a total of $29,953.24 before agency and manager fees (taking 20%) and taxes were deducted. This was for eight episodes filmed over a six-month period. Notably, I handled all promotional work and had the main visuals for this show. Traveling round trip from New York City to San Francisco for each episode shooting took its toll, as I was kept for extended periods without pay or insurance. Just barely qualifying for insurance, I found myself working under challenging circumstances.” (Posted on Threads, July 24)

Within the initial month after its debut, Season 1 of the show accumulated a grand total of 476 million viewing hours. This is the reason for our assertive stance.

Dax Shepard, during an interview with his podcast guest and former co-star from “Parenthood”, Lauren Graham, casually mentioned that he was aware he ranked among the lowest paid actors in their NBC show, which spanned over six seasons.

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

As a die-hard enthusiast, I’ve always been intrigued by the subject of salaries. Before diving into the captivating world of “Parenthood”, I made it my mission to uncover the earnings of every job I held previously. Whether it was through a casual conversation that inadvertently led to the topic, or discreetly using my network of agents, I managed to find out what everyone was taking home.

Instead, he deliberately avoided finding information about his lineage in terms of his parental family, and this enabled him to savor the experience more, despite occasionally sensing where he stood within the hierarchy when it came to his salary.

George Clooney stated to the Los Angeles Times in 2005 that he earned a dollar by writing the script for his movie “Good Night, and Good Luck”. To get the film produced, he had to validate a check for directing and give up his acting salary. Alongside Grant Heslov, he each made a dollar for their roles as actor, cowriter, and coproducer.

The heartfelt work on CBS News journalist Edward R. Murrow, who stood up to authority in the 1950s, has proven to be quite influential: George Clooney is set to make his Broadway debut portraying Murrow in a stage adaptation of the movie. Furthermore, the play managed to break a Broadway record (for a nonmusical) by earning $3.3 million during its previews week even before its official opening on April 3, suggesting that he’s raking in quite a bit more than $1.00.

In 2000’s “American Psycho”, Christian Bale portrayed Patrick Bateman, a role for which he was compensated the absolute minimum allowed by law as no one else on the production team was keen to hire him except director Mary Harron. This was shared with GQ in 2022 by the Welsh actor himself.

In a statement, Bale revealed that his earnings were remarkably small, to the point where he recalled the makeup artists laughing at him as they noticed he was being paid less than any of them during their shared time in the makeup trailer.

Although his uncle might have been named Rico, Jon Heder clarified in 2010 that he was initially given a mere $1,000 for the film Napoleon Dynamite at first.

Following the unexpected success of his offbeat comedy, he managed to renegotiate and secure a share of the earnings. He told the New Zealand Herald, “They increased it slightly.

Djimon Hounsou openly stated that he feels undervalued financially in the Hollywood film industry, even though he boasts an impressive resume with movies like “Amistad” and “Blood Diamond” to his name.

For more than twenty years, this Beninese actor has been involved in filmmaking with both small and major studio productions,” he shared with Larry Madowo on CNN in January 2025. “Despite two Oscar nominations and significant roles in big-budget films, I’m still finding it hard to sustain myself financially.

In her 2024 memoir titled “Rebel Rising,” Rebel Wilson shared an interesting fact: she was initially paid $3,500 for her role in Bridesmaids. However, upon joining the Screen Actors Guild with that money, she effectively received no compensation since she used the fee to become a union member.

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

The Australian actress saw a significant increase in her earnings, with her salary for Pitch Perfect 2012 rising from the SAG minimum of $65,000 to $10 million for Pitch Perfect 3 in 2017. According to Wilson, she earned a total of $20 million for the third installment, Isn’t It Romantic and The Hustle. However, it’s important to note that approximately half of this amount went to taxes, another 10% to agents, and 5% to her lawyer. Even after meeting various obligations like paying her publicist, business manager, and assistant, Wilson was left with a substantial fortune.

By the end of 2017, Ellen Pompeo successfully renegotiated her contract for the TV series Grey’s Anatomy, securing a payment of approximately $575,000 per episode. Additionally, she received a substantial signing bonus in the seven-figure range and two shares of backend equity, estimated to be worth between $6 million and $7 million.

In 2018, Pompeo expressed to The Hollywood Reporter that at the age of 48, she has reached a point where she feels comfortable asking for what she rightfully deserves. She acknowledged that in the industry, she may not be seen as ‘relevant’ due to playing the same character for 14 years. However, she emphasized that it takes a real skill to remain good on a show for 14 years, something not everyone can do.

Looking back now, I can’t help but ponder the intriguing pay disparity between me and my costar, Patrick Dempsey, despite the fact that I was the one playing Meredith Grey. However, I must clarify that I never resented his earnings.

In a March 2025 episode of Call Her Daddy, she expressed, “Since I was the namesake of this show, I felt I deserved equal treatment. It was tougher to achieve than his success. I wasn’t resentful about what he received. Instead, I resented that they didn’t appreciate me as much as him and never will.

Jamie Lee Curtis reminisced about earning $2,000 per week, which amounted to a total of $8,000, for her first film role in the 1978 movie “Halloween”. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes in 2018, she stated, ” frankly, no one received any payment.

Even though the “scream queen” received four-figure payments, John Carpenter’s companion, Nick Castle, felt like royalty earning just $25 per day to co-play the role of Michael Myers. (It was Anthony Moran whose face you glimpse when the killer’s mask momentarily comes off, and Tommy Lee Wallace also recorded screen time as Michael.)

At that moment, it felt like quite a bit! As shared with Vanity Fair in 2018, Castle, who studied film alongside Carpenter at USC, stated. Recall: My fascination with the film was the set experience, so I could unravel the enigma of filmmaking and directing. I thought I’d just be hanging around for free. But little did I know, they paid $25 a day, and all I had to do was wear a rubber mask.

Taraji P. Henson received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in 2008’s “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” but even years afterward, she was still passionate about the $150,000 she was paid for her role—since producers turned down her initial request for $500,000.

Regarding the main characters of the movie, namely Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, Henson mentioned on the Ladies First With Laura Brown podcast in 2021 that at that time, salaries of $20 million were not frequently heard of. However, he believed it was justified given their talent – he wasn’t implying they shouldn’t have been compensated fairly for their work.

However, she went on to say, “I also planned to contribute an agreed-upon amount for the seat, and at that stage in my career, what I was asking seemed reasonable given the ticket sales for this major film. I wouldn’t accept it.” Henson was disappointed when they initially offered $100,000, she reminisced. “In the end, I received $150,000, but I had to set aside my pride.

Henson clarified, “People often say, ‘A sum of $150,000 is a significant amount!’ However, it’s important to understand that I’m not ungrateful. Here’s the math: The government takes half, so you’re left with about $75,000. Before taxes, I need to pay my team 30%, which means Uncle Sam will take another 75% of the remaining $75,000, leaving me with around $40,000.

Although Cate Blanchett has earned a substantial amount throughout her career, it’s important to note that not all of her wealth is attributable to her role as the royal elf Galadriel in the The Lord of the Rings film series, despite its massive success with a global box office revenue of $2.9 billion.

In response to Andy Cohen’s guess on “Watch What Happens Live” in August 2024 that she earned a lot from the Lord of the Rings movies, she clarified, “That’s not true! Nobody received payment for that film…I can tell you I didn’t get paid much, if anything. All I really got were some free sandwiches, and I was able to keep my ears.

In fact, they didn’t receive a substantial sum of money, as one might expect. For instance, Orlando Bloom, who portrayed the elven warrior Legolas, revealed on The Howard Stern Show in 2023 that he was paid only $175,000 for the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Hopefully he also got to keep his ears.

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2025-07-22 16:49