Jason Isaacs Reveals How Much Each Actor Made on Season 3 of <i>The White Lotus</i>
Jason Isaacs is letting White Lotus fans in on a little pay transparency.
In a recent interview with Vulture, the actor confirmed that everyone on season 3 of the HBO show got paid $40,000 per episode. “That’s absolutely true,” he said. “Generally actors don’t talk about pay in public because it’s ridiculously disproportionate to what we do—putting on makeup and funny voices—and just upsets the public. But compared to what people normally get paid for big television shows, that’s a very low price. But the fact is, we would have paid to be in it. We probably would have given a body part.”
But did he feel weird about being paid the same as his other, less-experienced co-stars? “I never work for money,” he shared. “I mean, I’ve done all right. People will think I have huge stockpiles of money, but sadly, what I’ve done rather immaturely is expand my outgoings to match my incomings and pretty much spent everything I’ve earned over the years.”
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, executive producer David Bernad spoke more about the show’s salary policy. “Everyone is treated the same on The White Lotus,” he said. “They get paid the same, and we do alphabetical billing, so you’re getting people who want to do the project for the right reasons, not to quote The Bachelor. It’s a system we developed in the first season because there was no money to make the show.”
Casting director Meredith Tucker echoed similar sentiments, “It makes it so much easier. You tell people this is what it is. And some won’t do it—and honestly, you can’t hold it against people who need to make a living.”
“And it’s not negotiable,” Bernad added.
elle