THE porn industry is estimated to be worth a huge £15billion overall. Those at the very top can rake in hundreds of thousands each year whilst newer performers could be paid as little as £240 per each film. Here's what we know.
Generally, male performers earn less than female actresses in the porn industry. It's difficult to generalise how much porn actors get paid since there aren't many regulations and there is a large discrepancy between those starting their careers and the well-established adult stars. Those behind the raunchy scenes aren't paid nearly as well as their counterparts in Hollywood, despite the industry's multi-billion pound price tag.
That's according to founder of LA Direct Models, Derek Hay, a man who represents many top adult performers and used to work as an actor himself. In 2017, he told The Independent 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 pay could vary by 10-20 per cent either way, depending on who the actor is and whether they are well known.
Jobs in the porn industry are not as lucrative as people might expect, even for performers at the top of their game. Derek added: "I don’t think that adult stars make as much money as the general public perceives them to make. "I don’t think there’s anybody, even the biggest stars, who are making more than half a million a year.
"But if some of the top stars are making £240,000 to £320,000 per year, by most people.