Why Money Doesn’t Affect Raven-Symoné and Miranda Maday’s Marriage

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Money isn’t a key player in Raven-Symoné’s marital vision.

That’s why Raven-Symoné readily supported her wife, Miranda Maday, when Miranda responded to people who claimed she married Raven for money.

Raven, 39, recently told TopMob News at the Teen Vogue Summit 2025 in Los Angeles that his wife has always been financially secure due to her family’s wealth. He emphasized that money isn’t a factor in their relationship, and she didn’t marry him for his possessions. In fact, he said she’s actually encouraged him to embrace a more luxurious lifestyle.

Still, Miranda admitted that the online chatter about her relationship did strike a nerve for her.

I was just feeling frustrated,” she explained. “That day recording the podcast happened when I was already having a tough time. I wanted to be clear that I’m a very honest person, and the idea that I’m after someone’s money is completely untrue. I have many flaws, but being a ‘gold digger’ isn’t one of them.”

Although Miranda pointed to her own financial independence as evidence she didn’t marry for money, she’s still very proud of everything her partner of five years has achieved.

“I will remind everyone that my wife was a millionaire at the age of three,” she noted. “The end.”

And Raven made it clear she had no issues with Miranda discussing their finances publicly.

She stated firmly, “That’s my wife.” She then expressed her happiness at seeing her wife speaking her mind, adding, “Go sit down and relax for a bit.”

A video from Raven and Miranda’s podcast reappeared in August, showing Miranda responding to accusations that she was with someone for the money.

She explained on the June episode of *Tea Time with Raven and Miranda* that she feels strongly about addressing the rumors because many people believe she married Raven solely for financial gain.

Miranda claimed she’s better off financially than Raven, then emphasized her marriage is built on genuine love. She explained, “I married Raven because I’m very attracted to her.”

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

According to Joe Giudice, he and his ex-wife Teresa Giudice didn’t make much money during the first season of *The Real Housewives of New Jersey*. He revealed on his daughter Gia’s *Casual Chaos* podcast in August 2025 that they were paid around $25,000, which he considered a very small amount, but they accepted it.

Creating the first season of the show wasn’t inexpensive. The father of four recalled hosting a large party in his living room and estimated the show cost him around $150,000 that first year.

As a lifestyle expert and having been through the experience myself – winning Season 33 of *Dancing With the Stars* with Joey Graziadei – I can tell you there isn’t a big cash prize for winning the mirrorball trophy. But don’t think the finalists go home empty-handed! Everyone who makes it to the finale gets paid through that point, and we all receive a really lovely bonus on top of that.

Johnson explained that winning doesn’t mean a huge payout-it’s more about the trophy. She also clarified that contestants are guaranteed a certain number of weeks on the show. While ABC hasn’t confirmed the numbers, reports indicate dancers start earning around $1,200 to $1,600 per episode, potentially reaching $100,000 for the entire season. Celebrities, however, begin with a $125,000 salary, and those who reach the semifinals or finals can earn up to an additional $50,000.

Jennifer Lawrence, who has won an Oscar, earned $25 million for her role in the Adam McKay-directed comedy *Don’t Look Up*. However, her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio, also an Oscar winner, received $30 million for the same film.

Jennifer Lawrence acknowledged that Leonardo DiCaprio earns more at the box office than she does. While she’s happy with her own salary, she explained to *Vanity Fair* that it’s often awkward for women to ask for equal pay. She’s observed that when women do question a pay difference, they’re often told it’s not about gender, but without any specific explanation for the disparity.

Jennifer Lawrence’s optimistic outlook didn’t come easily. When the 2014 Sony email leak showed she was paid less than her male co-stars in the 2013 film *American Hustle*, it sparked a widespread discussion about unequal pay for women in Hollywood.

In a 2017 interview with Channel 4 News, Lawrence explained she wasn’t worried about her earnings. ‘I’m lucky to have the job I do,’ she said. ‘It wasn’t about the amount of money – millions is still a lot! – it was about the principle of unfairness and inequality.’

Okay, so everyone’s talking about how much Leonardo DiCaprio made for *The Wolf of Wall Street*, which is totally deserved, obviously! But did you *know* poor Jonah Hill only got $60,000? Before taxes and everything, of course. It’s insane when you think Leo pulled in *ten million* dollars for the same movie! Seriously, $60,000? It just doesn’t seem right when you consider how amazing he was in it. I just keep thinking about that difference, it’s wild!

Hill said on *The Howard Stern Show* in 2014 that he was offered very little money for the role. However, he was excited about the opportunity to work with director Martin Scorsese on the film *Moneyball*, so he quickly agreed to the deal before anyone could back out.

Hill, a two-time Best Supporting Actor nominee known for playing a frantic, drug-using stockbroker, said he’d be willing to sacrifice everything to work with director Martin Scorsese. He explained that while films like *22 Jump Street* help pay the bills, he’d prioritize passion projects over profit. ‘I’d do anything, and I’d do it again,’ he said, emphasizing that true fulfillment comes from doing work you believe in, not just earning money.

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

Oh my gosh, you guys, I read this interview with him and he said they only offered him $35,000 for that movie! Can you believe it?! But he said it was the *best* $35,000 he ever made, and honestly, I totally get it. He said it completely changed his life and taught him so much. It’s just… everything about him is perfect, and knowing he started with something like that just makes me love him even more!

Jennifer Lopez made history as the first Latina actress to earn a $1 million salary for her role as Selena Quintanilla in the 1997 film *Selena*.

Looking back at the film that launched her career, Lopez explained to *Variety* in 2019 that she was naive at the time and didn’t fully understand what was happening. She added that being offered a million dollars was fantastic, and she believes everyone involved was trying to prove a point.

This success allowed her to earn hundreds of millions of dollars more, and often she doesn’t even have to invest any money of her own.

Jennifer Lopez told *GQ* in 2019 that she follows her passions. She explained she wasn’t motivated by money when making *Hustlers*, even producing it without pay, because she believes in investing in herself. She compares it to her approach with *Jenny From the Block* – she simply does what she loves.

Adrien Brody wasn’t motivated by financial gain when he accepted the role in *The Brutalist*. He chose to play a Hungarian architect struggling with his work in post-World War II America, and his performance earned him a second Academy Award for Best Actor, despite a salary of only $250,000.

Brody told *Variety* he’s ready for a big studio film, explaining he’s invested everything he has into renovating a unique property – a barn resembling a castle – in upstate New York.

When asked about his early spending habits after joining *Saturday Night Live* in 2014 at age 20, Pete Davidson joked to *New York* magazine, “Do you guys know what we made?” He explained that he earned around $3,000 per episode, saying, “So I think I just bought dinner.”

It’s notable that pay has stayed consistent for new cast members on *Saturday Night Live*. In 1975, the original stars – John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, and Chevy Chase – each earned $750 per episode. When adjusted for inflation, that’s about $3,300 in 2014, and roughly $4,428 in 2025.

Kenan Thompson earns significantly more than $3,000 per episode of *SNL* these days, especially as he begins his 22nd season on the show. However, he didn’t always make that much and had to start with smaller paychecks early in his career, having previously starred on Nickelodeon.

In Demi Lovato’s 2024 documentary, *Child Star*, a former cast member of *All That* shared that their first paycheck was $800. They added that, being 12 years old at the time, it felt like a fortune – basically, a million dollars.

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

Lauren Graham, best known for playing Lorelai Gilmore for seven seasons and then again in the 2016 revival *Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life*, recently shared that she doesn’t receive any ongoing payments (residuals) from Netflix. Appearing on *Jimmy Kimmel Live* in March 2025, she joked that she’s been compensated with ‘love and appreciation’ instead.

Okay, so I was *completely* devastated to hear Tommy Dorfman talk about this during the SAG-AFTRA strike. Apparently, even though *13 Reasons Why* was HUGE – like, a cultural phenomenon – she didn’t get any extra money when Netflix kept making bank off it! It’s just awful. The whole strike was about this – streamers not sharing the wealth when a show blows up, and it’s so unfair to the actors and everyone who worked on it. I mean, she *deserves* so much more, and it makes me so mad that Netflix didn’t properly compensate her for something that clearly became a massive success. It’s just…ugh!

Dorfman revealed on Threads July 24th that she earned $29,953.24 for the first season of *13 Reasons Why* before her agency, manager (combined 20%), and taxes took their share. She worked on 8 episodes over six months, doing all the promotional work and appearing in key artwork for the show. She also shared that she traveled frequently between New York City and San Francisco to film, often working for days without pay and barely qualifying for health insurance.

Dorfman also noted that the show’s first season reached 476 million viewing hours within its first 28 days, which is the reason for the strike.

Dax Shepard recently shared with Lauren Graham on his podcast that he was one of the lowest-paid actors during their time on the NBC series *Parenthood*, which aired for six seasons. He didn’t reveal specific salaries or names, but confirmed he earned significantly less than many of his co-stars.

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

Before becoming a parent, I always made it a priority to find out how much my colleagues were earning. I’d either ask them directly or discreetly check through my agent to get the information.

He deliberately avoided finding out details about his family’s history at the company, and that allowed him to appreciate the experience, even when he started to realize his position within the organization’s hierarchy.

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE this! I was reading an interview with George Clooney from 2005 in the Los Angeles Times, and he said they practically *gave* their movie, Good Night, and Good Luck, to the studio! He actually only made a DOLLAR for writing the script! Can you imagine?! He had to sign over his directing fee AND give up his entire actor’s salary just to get it made. And Grant Heslov, his co-writer and producer? He made a single dollar too! They were SO passionate about the story, they literally worked for nothing. It’s just… amazing! They sacrificed everything for their art, and I’m obsessed with them for it!

George Clooney’s passionate portrayal of CBS News journalist Edward R. Murrow, highlighting his courage in challenging authority during the 1950s, proved highly successful. He made his Broadway debut playing Murrow in a stage adaptation of the film, finishing his run in June 2025. The play earned a record-breaking $3.3 million during previews before its official opening on April 3rd, proving to be a significant financial success – far exceeding a mere $1 million.

Christian Bale revealed in a 2022 interview with GQ that he earned very little for his iconic role as Patrick Bateman in the 2000 film *American Psycho*. He said he was paid the lowest amount legally possible because the producers weren’t initially enthusiastic about casting him, with director Mary Harron being his main advocate.

Bale recalled earning so little during one job that the makeup artists on set actually laughed at him, because he was paid less than they were.

I was shocked to learn this, but Jon Heder actually revealed back in 2010 that he only made $1,000 for *Napoleon Dynamite* at the start! I always figured, considering how iconic the movie is and how much his uncle, Rico, is a part of it, he’d have gotten more right away. It’s amazing how much of a hit it became despite that initial small payment.

Once the unexpectedly popular comedy film proved successful, he successfully asked for a share of the earnings. He told the *New Zealand Herald* that his request resulted in a slightly better deal.

Despite a successful career with acclaimed films like *Amistad* and *Blood Diamond*, Djimon Hounsou feels he isn’t paid enough for his work in Hollywood.

The Beninese actor shared with CNN’s Larry Madowo in January 2025 that despite working in film for over twenty years-and even with two Oscar nominations and appearances in many successful blockbusters-he continues to struggle financially to support himself.

In her 2024 memoir, *Rebel Rising*, Rebel Wilson revealed she earned just $3,500 for her work on *Bridesmaids*. However, she had to pay the entire amount to the Screen Actors Guild to become a union member, meaning she effectively received no payment for the film.

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

The Australian actress’s career soared, and her salary dramatically increased. She earned the standard union rate of $65,000 for the 2012 film *Pitch Perfect*, but by 2017’s *Pitch Perfect 3*, she was commanding $10 million. In total, she made $20 million from *Pitch Perfect 3*, *Isn’t It Romantic*, and *The Hustle*. However, after paying nearly 50% in taxes, 10% to her agents, and 5% to her lawyer, plus other professional fees, she still considered her earnings a huge success.

In late 2017, Ellen Pompeo successfully negotiated a new contract for her role on *Grey’s Anatomy*. The deal paid her $575,000 per episode, included a large signing bonus, and gave her a share of the show’s profits, estimated to be worth between $6 and $7 million.

In a 2018 interview with *The Hollywood Reporter*, 48-year-old Pompeo explained that she’s reached a point in her career where she confidently asks for fair compensation. She believes this self-assurance comes with experience. Pompeo acknowledges she isn’t considered one of the most ‘in-demand’ actresses, largely because she’s played the same character for 14 years. However, she points out that while many actors can perform well during a show’s first couple of seasons, maintaining that quality for 14 years demonstrates real talent.

Ellen Pompeo recently thought about the fact that she consistently earned less than her “Grey’s Anatomy” costar, Patrick Dempsey, despite being the show’s central character. However, she says she doesn’t resent him for it.

In a March 2025 episode of her podcast, *Call Her Daddy*, she explained that she felt she deserved equal recognition, considering the show was named after her. She wasn’t upset about his success, but rather that her contributions weren’t valued as highly, and she believed that would always be the case.

Jamie Lee Curtis remembers earning $2,000 per week, totaling $8,000, for her first movie, the 1978 film *Halloween*. As she explained to Rotten Tomatoes in 2018, practically no one involved in the film received significant pay.

Although the lead actress made a good amount of money, director John Carpenter’s friend Nick Castle felt incredibly lucky earning $25 a day for sharing the role of Michael Myers. (Interestingly, it’s actually Anthony Moran whose face you briefly see when the killer’s mask comes off, and editor Tommy Lee Wallace also appeared on screen as Michael.)

Looking back, it was a whirlwind,” said Castle, who went to film school with Carpenter at USC. He told *Vanity Fair* in 2018 that he’d been drawn to the project simply to observe the filmmaking process and learn how directing worked. “I figured I’d be a fly on the wall, working for free. But I ended up making $25 a day just for wearing a rubber mask!”

Taraji P. Henson received an Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the 2008 film *The Curious Case of Benjamin Button*. However, she was still frustrated years later that she only earned $150,000 for the movie, despite initially requesting $500,000.

In a 2021 interview on the *Ladies First With Laura Brown* podcast, producer Dede Henson discussed the high salaries of the film’s stars, Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. She noted that $20 million paychecks for actors were less common at the time, but added, “They absolutely deserved what they were paid.”

She explained that she was also bringing value to the project and believed her salary request was reasonable, considering how much the film was expected to earn. She wouldn’t have accepted less. Henson said she was very disappointed when they initially offered her only $100,000. In the end, she negotiated a salary of $150,000, but admitted it was difficult to accept less than she felt she deserved.

Henson understands some people might think $150,000 is a large sum of money, but she wants to be clear she’s not ungrateful. However, after taxes and paying her team, the actual amount she receives is significantly less. She estimates that after the government takes 50%, she’s left with $75,000. Then, after paying her team 30% of the original amount, she might only have around $40,000 remaining.

Cate Blanchett has earned a substantial income throughout her career, but her role as the elf Galadriel in the highly successful *The Lord of the Rings* films-which made $2.9 billion worldwide-wasn’t her sole source of wealth.

When Andy Cohen suggested on *Watch What Happens Live* in August 2024 that *The Lord of the Rings* was her most lucrative role, she jokingly replied, “No, absolutely not!” She explained that the cast didn’t receive significant payment for the film – she essentially earned only free sandwiches and was allowed to keep her prosthetic ears.

Orlando Bloom, known for his role as Legolas in *The Lord of the Rings* trilogy, revealed in a 2023 interview on *The Howard Stern Show* that he earned only $175,000 for all three films – a surprisingly small amount.

Hopefully he also got to keep his ears.

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2025-09-22 22:49