Want to know how much money porn stars make?

[Hypoxia]

How Much Money Do Porn Stars Actually Make?

Female Performer Average Rates (one-time flat rate per scene, zero royalties):

Girl/Girl: $700-$800, Girl/Girl Anal: $900-$1100
Boy/Girl: $900-$1000, Boy/Girl Anal: $1100-$1200
Double or triple penetration: $1200-$2500
Threesomes, Foursomes & Orgies: base rate + $100-$200 per additional performer

Male Performer Average Rates (one- time flat rate per scene, zero royalties):

Newbies boy/girl (anal or non): $300-$500
Proven performers boy/girl (anal or non): $500-$1200
Threesomes, Foursomes & Orgies: base rate + $100-$300 (not always per performer)​

Do the math.

 

[LexxRuthless]

I want to be clear--I'm not questioning your numbers.

What was the source for this information?

 

[Hypoxia]

I want to be clear--I'm not questioning your numbers.

What was the source for this information?

Click the link to the Daily Beast article. It's non-toxic.

 

[LexxRuthless]

D'oh! Totally missed that. Sorry.

Need more coffee...

 

[MelissaBaby]

Boy/Girl: $900-$1000

I'm surprised it's that low. A stripper can make that much on a good Saturday night.

 

[NotWise]

I'm surprised it's that low. A stripper can make that much on a good Saturday night.

At least some of the porn performers are strippers as well. And prostitutes.

 

[MelissaBaby]

At least some of the porn performers are strippers as well.

True, and the well known women make a ton of money on the road. I would expect that most of the non-stars either dance or escort. Or do webcams, that's a very popular sure of income now.

 

[NotWise]

True, and the well known women make a ton of money on the road. I would expect that most of the non-stars either dance or escort. Or do webcams, that's a very popular sure of income now.

At least some of the stars are also escorts, or whatever other name you want to put on sex work.

A few years ago I was looking for Lexi Belle's "Sailor Poon" photos (in which she was costumed as Sailor Moon) and came across her blog. She was taking bids for one man/one night, and added that she might consider putting on her clown make-up for the event. The winner would have to get themselves to Chicago--she wasn't going to them.

Lexi Belle's clown photos are well-circulated, and they range from comic to demented. I'm not in that market, but I imagine the winner paid a lot for their one night -- clown make-up or no clown make-up.

 

[MelissaBaby]

At least some of the stars are also escorts, or whatever other name you want to put on sex work.

A few years ago I was looking for Lexi Belle's "Sailor Poon" photos (in which she was costumed as Sailor Moon) and came across her blog. She was taking bids for one man/one night, and added that she might consider putting on her clown make-up for the event. The winner would have to get themselves to Chicago--she wasn't going to them.

Lexi Belle's clown photos are well-circulated, and they range from comic to demented. I'm not in that market, but I imagine the winner paid a lot for their one night -- clown make-up or no clown make-up.

I met a few who came to the club I danced at on their tours. It was a mixed bag having them come. The club made a lot of money, but the regular dancers got ignored. But it was good publicity and the place would be busier for a while afterwards.

Many of them did turn tricks. Some worked at Nevada brothels like the Bunny Ranch. I assumed that they danced and tricked to take advantage of their fame as porn stars, but now I think they were probably doing porn as advertising for the other sex work.

 

[NotWise]

Many of them did turn tricks. Some worked at Nevada brothels like the Bunny Ranch. I assumed that they danced and tricked to take advantage of their fame as porn stars, but now I think they were probably doing porn as advertising for the other sex work.

I've come to believe that's true. Porn doesn't pay a lot (though I suppose the headline stars are paid above the schedule Hypoxia posted), and it makes sense to use it to promote a sex business where maybe the sky's the limit.

If you look up well-known names on IMDB you'll find that some of their bios list them as model/actress/prostitute or some such combination. In a lot of cases I think the sex work might provide most of the income.

 

[Maeven_quinn]

I'm surprised it's that low. A stripper can make that much on a good Saturday night.

I thought the same thing. A friend in college used to pole dance and strip in Vegas. She did quite well, would come back from a weekend with two or three grand easily.

Years ago, I remember reading how the most successful porn stars are the ones who negotiate for royalties or get more involved in the production.

So, the lesson is, if you're going to do porn, dont' be a sex-worker. Be a full blown capitalist too?

 

[MelissaBaby]

I've come to believe that's true. Porn doesn't pay a lot (though I suppose the headline stars are paid above the schedule Hypoxia posted), and it makes sense to use it to promote a sex business where maybe the sky's the limit.

If you look up well-known names on IMDB you'll find that some of their bios list them as model/actress/prostitute or some such combination. In a lot of cases I think the sex work might provide most of the income.

Leaving escorting out of it and looking at dancing, when a "name" porn star makes a club appearance, what can they make?

I'm a nobody, but I've made $800 a night in tips. Most high end places, the type that would host an appearance, the girls are getting probably $100 for a half hour in the VIP room. They are likely making $100-$200 in on stage tips.

What would fans pay to spend a half hour in private with their favorite porn star? Keep in mind, she's not going to do more than a couple hours, so the competition to get in that room will be fierce. Let's say she goes VIP four times for $1000 each. That doesn't seem far fetched to me. so, there is $4K. And if she does extras, well, the sky's the limit.

And on stage, of course, the guys are going to want to get her attention, and I would not be surprised if she takes in a couple thousand. Guy who might slip a single in my thong would be putting a ten in hers.

I don't think the clubs usually pay a fee, but they do cover travel expenses, I am sure.

So, bottom line is that she's probably clearing perhaps $6k a night, assuming she's working straight, no extras. And how many nights a year? Fifty nights and she's made $300k.

Yeah, safe to say the real money isn't from the porn shoots.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I thought the same thing. A friend in college used to pole dance and strip in Vegas. She did quite well, would come back from a weekend with two or three grand easily.

Years ago, I remember reading how the most successful porn stars are the ones who negotiate for royalties or get more involved in the production.

So, the lesson is, if you're going to do porn, dont' be a sex-worker. Be a full blown capitalist too?

Vegas is by far the best place to work, but the competition is fierce. I couldn't dance there, I'd be like a Little Leaguer trying to get a spot with the Red Sox. But even dancing at clubs in Maine, I made a lot of money. Unfortunately, I used it all to get high.

 

[Maeven_quinn]

Vegas is by far the best place to work, but the competition is fierce.

The Portland, or area and Vegas were apparently a big places. And yeah, I hear the competition is rather severe out there too. She offered to get me into one of those clubs, but I was too intimidated by competition at the A-list clubs, and still too chicken for the B-list vegas clubs.

I couldn't dance there, I'd be like a Little Leaguer trying to get a spot with the Red Sox. But even dancing at clubs in Maine, I made a lot of money. Unfortunately, I used it all to get high.

That sucks. We all got a little regret from recreational substances. Maybe we should've listened to those puritans from my Evangelical youth groups. Maybe I would have invested instead of buying fancy vodka.

 

[SimonDoom]

Need more coffee...

My answer for almost everything. Usually true.

 

[MelissaBaby]

The Portland, or area and Vegas were apparently a big places. And yeah, I hear the competition is rather severe out there too. She offered to get me into one of those clubs, but I was too intimidated by competition at the A-list clubs, and still too chicken for the B-list vegas clubs.



That sucks. We all got a little regret from recreational substances. Maybe we should've listened to those puritans from my Evangelical youth groups. Maybe I would have invested instead of buying fancy vodka.

Unfortunately, I took things a bit past recreational...

 

[Emirus]

But even dancing at clubs in Maine, I made a lot of money. Unfortunately, I used it all to get high.

I knew that you had to have a good sense of balance to pole dance but I didn’t know you could make enough money in a night to be able to stand on it to get high up the pole. How tall are these poles anyway? I’ve never been in a pole dancing / lap dancing club because my wife doesn’t like me watching her at work.

Seriously. You hear so many stories of the death etc of those who’ve got involved with drugs it’s good to hear the stories of those who have managed to overcome their addiction. A close friend of mine died in 1974 because he couldn’t overcome it.

 

[MelissaBaby]

I knew that you had to have a good sense of balance to pole dance but I didn’t know you could make enough money in a night to be able to stand on it to get high up the pole. How tall are these poles anyway? I’ve never been in a pole dancing / lap dancing club because my wife doesn’t like me watching her at work.

Seriously. You hear so many stories of the death etc of those who’ve got involved with drugs it’s good to hear the stories of those who have managed to overcome their addiction. A close friend of mine died in 1974 because he couldn’t overcome it.

I'm 5'8". In 6" heels, I am 6'2". That''s plenty high for most guys.

To you serious note: I have lost many friends to the curse of addiction. I am lucky to be here myself. Thank you for your thoughts.

 

[R. Richard]

The rates posted by the OP are for the working girls or working boys.
The stars (mo9stly female) get paid by the video, not the sex act. (There are a vary few male stars who can get paid by the video.)
The female stars feature dance at high end clubs and BANK!
Some female stars also work the Nevada brothels.

If y9u want the whole story read The Anatomy of An Adult Film by Sunset Thomas and R. Richard (shameless plug)

 

[Sir Victor]

Some members here know the young lady featured in this article. Cam girls can
make good money:
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/22/technology/intimacy-on-the-web-with-a-crowd.html

 

[Hypoxia]

I'm 5'8". In 6" heels, I am 6'2". That''s plenty high for most guys.

Short. My fave personal ad from the old L.A. Free Press: "Tall girl, 6'7", looking for same."

To you serious note: I have lost many friends to the curse of addiction. I am lucky to be here myself. Thank you for your thoughts.

I knew a few fellows from prominent families. The details of their drug-outs are grim. I've lived in heavily addicted neighborhoods and I'm lucky to be here, too. Well, existence is always a learning process. Live and learn, or don't.

Back to pr0n stars. RIP Porn: How The Internet Is Slowly Killing The Adult Entertainment Industry:

“The future of pornography... is the [performer who] makes [their] own product and markets it to [their] own audience... the [studio-produced] product has gotten more aggressive [and] violent...”

As studios have become increasingly obsolete, many performers have found themselves out of work, out of money, and without any good alternatives. That’s led more and more... to involvement in prostitution just to pay the bills—whether by choice or not.​

The past is a different world and the future will be, too. How will pr0n survive the next few decades? How will sex work evolve?

 

[MelissaBaby]

How will sex work evolve?

Every dancer I know will tell you that business is declining in strip clubs. And Prostitution is being seriously curtailed by new laws against sex trafficking, particularly the laws targeting websites that allow advertising for sex work. How much of that is a passing trend and how much will be long lasting, there's no way to know.

 

[corvair64]

The article is not too far off, but from my experience it really depended on the company that you were shooting for. Working for Adam & Eve or Hustler would get performers higher wages and shorter days. Doing Gonzo work for companies like Naughty America meant the same pay but longer days since they would film three different storylines at the same place with different male performers and outfits.

They would also try to spread out the work so that the performers would not get too worn out. A girl might do an normal girl/guy scene first, take a break while something else was filmed and then come back for a girl/girl or a simple blowjob scene. Anal scenes would tend to be the last for a performer since the way muscles work down there, it's the last thing you want to do.

A newbie sometimes gets paid pretty good. But, since they are young and have energy they sometimes try too much in a week and wear themselves out or worse. The pros usually would try to advise the new performers to space out what they did in a week so they would last longer and make sometimes the same amount of money for less work.

The men like Even Stone are pro's and know how to perform all day. But there are some tricks to the trade and once and awhile you see some blue pills.

A starlet normally only lasts about four months before they stop. Some become pro and branch out into dancing, podcasting, cams and branding. A smart performer can build a following and a brand and not have to perform as many scenes to make a good living.

The only orgies I went to were by Hustler. I went to a few "Barely 18 All Girl Gang Bangs" and let me tell you. Everyone was smiling all day. Also, they craft table was really good Thai food.

I also went to a "Gang Bang My Mom" shoot, where five black guys had their way with a pornstars mom. That was a long day...

Overall, performers are treated well and paid well. They just need to be smart with their bodies and pace themselves or they burn out fast.

 

[Maeven_quinn]

Every dancer I know will tell you that business is declining in strip clubs.

If you can get what you want on the internet for free, in HD, then... yeah I can see how that would happen.

Most Los Angeles strip clubs (that I know of) are in sketch areas and sometimes have "ready for terrorist attack" level of security guards. It sucks, because it's hard to want to visit a place if you don't feel safe. I can imagine how that affects the dancers. Personally, I blame all the mass shooting incels for that dynamic, not the security guards hired to deter them.

And Prostitution is being seriously curtailed by new laws against sex trafficking, particularly the laws targeting websites that allow advertising for sex work. How much of that is a passing trend and how much will be long lasting, there's no way to know.

Those same laws make it difficult to advertise erotica now too. I've abandoned my social media now because what's the point?

I hope California will decriminalize sex work someday. There's always talk about it, but it never gets anywhere.

 

[MelissaBaby]

If you can get what you want on the internet for free, in HD, then... yeah I can see how that would happen.

Most Los Angeles strip clubs (that I know of) are in sketch areas and sometimes have "ready for terrorist attack" level of security guards. It sucks, because it's hard to want to visit a place if you don't feel safe. I can imagine how that affects the dancers. Personally, I blame all the mass shooting incels for that dynamic, not the security guards hired to deter them.




Those same laws make it difficult to advertise erotica now too. I've abandoned my social media now because what's the point?

I hope California will decriminalize sex work someday. There's always talk about it, but it never gets anywhere.

I think that there's kind of a perfect storm situation. As you said, a guy can see all the porn he wants for free, so why go spend a lot of money at a strip club? Well, the obvious answer is that he wants to do more than look. So, the dancers are under increased pressure to give extras, because of the combination of decreased revenue and increased customer demand for more than a dance. Then, as that pressure mounts, the legal system has ramped up the crackdown on sex work.

But, the powers that me have been trying to stamp out sex work for a long, long time. The hos will outlast them, as usual.