Jason Isaacs, known for his roles in the “Harry Potter” series and “The White Lotus,” has revealed that all main cast members of “The White Lotus” season three were paid the same amount of $40,000 per episode. This comes to a total of $320,000 for the entire season. Isaacs described this as “a very low price” compared to what actors typically earn for major television shows.
“But the fact is, we would have paid to be in it. We probably would have given a body part,” he said. David Bernad, a producer of “The White Lotus,” explained that this equal pay model was developed in the first season due to budget constraints.
“Everyone is treated the same on ‘The White Lotus.’ 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,” Bernad told Hollywood Reporter. This means that veteran actors like Isaacs and Parker Posey earned the same as relative newcomers.
Isaacs discusses equal pay model
When asked if he thought this was fair, Isaacs expressed that money is not his primary motivation. “Do I mind that I wasn’t paid more than other people? I never work for money,” he said.
Isaacs also admitted that despite his successful career, he has “pretty much spent everything” he has earned over the years. “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,” he revealed. The equal pay model of “The White Lotus” stands in contrast to the hefty paychecks often seen in the industry.
In 2021, for example, Martin Short and Steve Martin reportedly earned $600,000 per episode of “Only Murders in the Building,” while Kate Winslet reportedly got $650,000 per episode on “Mare of Easttown.”
The show’s approach echoes the one established by the main cast of “Friends,” who negotiated collectively to ensure they would each earn the same amount, eventually reaching $1 million per episode. “The White Lotus” serves as a reminder that equality can create magic in the television landscape. The cohesion and success of the show’s cast suggest that sometimes, equality is the most enriching path to creative and professional fulfillment.
