‘Stranger Things’ Actor Shares Amount He Was Paid by Netflix to Star as an Extra

Tristan Spohn, playing a minor role in ‘Stranger Things,’ recently shared exactly how much he was paid for his supporting role on the hit series.

Tristan appeared in five episodes as “Number Two” and said it was his first acting job with Netflix. He auditioned from Texas and later flew to Atlanta, where the season was filmed. Netflix paid for his flight and even arranged a personal driver to take him to and from the airport, which he estimates cost around $700 each way.

Surprisingly, the streaming giant didn’t cover his hotel at first, leaving him unable to afford food on his first night. He later got reimbursed for his six-week stay in what he described as a “very luxurious-looking hotel,” totaling about $7,561.

Even when he wasn’t filming, Tristan was earning. He made $150 per hour for travel time, which added up to $2,485. He also received a daily per diem of $60 for meals, which totaled over $2,500 for the six weeks, even though free food was available on set.

Some unexpected earnings came from scenes being reused as flashbacks in later episodes. This brought in nearly $4,000 more for Tristan. He continues to earn from residuals due to the show’s ongoing popularity.

“He’s previously explained how he’s able to continue making money even now due to the show’s success, through residuals, but these extra cheques are welcome bonuses given he’s made over $12k in the last three years just from people tuning in,” Spohn said.

Tristan’s base pay for the six weeks of filming was $30,000, which grew to $36,000 after accounting for reshoots and overtime. Altogether, he earned $58,662 before taxes and agency fees. After $15,000 in taxes and $4,400 for his agency, his take-home pay was $38,593.

For a first acting role, Tristan said the experience was rewarding. Nearly $40,000 for six weeks of work, plus luxury accommodations, free food, and continued income from reruns, made the job a solid start to his career.

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