Mia Khalifa, once one of the highest-ranking porn stars globally, has revealed the surprising reality of her earnings in the adult film industry. Despite her videos garnering billions of views, Khalifa didn’t earn as much as many might expect.
By 2018, three years after leaving the industry, Khalifa remained the second-highest-ranked person on Pornhub. However, her time as a porn star was brief, lasting only three months during which she filmed around 12 scenes. Despite these videos generating hundreds of millions of views, Khalifa was barely compensated for her work.
Contrary to the belief that porn stars make substantial amounts of money, Derek Hay, founder of LA Direct Models, explained to The Sun that adult stars often do not earn as much as the public perceives. He noted that even the top stars don’t make more than half a million a year. While earnings of $308,301 to $411,068 per year are still significant, they are minimal compared to the revenue generated for adult websites.
Khalifa herself revealed on social media that she only earned $12,000 during her stint in the industry, averaging about $1,000 per shoot. In a 2019 interview with The Washington Post, she confirmed that she does not receive residuals from Pornhub or other similar sites.
Despite the global fame her porn career brought her, Khalifa has strongly advised other women against entering the industry. In a 2020 Instagram video, she described her time as an adult film star as “the lowest, most toxic, most uncharacteristic three months” of her life. She expressed deep regret over her involvement, saying, “Those 11 videos will haunt me until I die, and I don’t want another girl to go through that – because no one should.” She urged anyone considering porn to do it on their own terms rather than through a company.
In addition to speaking out about her experiences, Khalifa recently shared a cryptic Instagram message seemingly aimed at her detractors. The post, featuring a track by The Game, read: “They don’t hate you. They hate themselves. You’re just a constant reminder of who they’d rather be & it hurts.” This message appeared to address the negativity she often faces.
Khalifa, who has become a prominent social media personality and sports presenter, is no stranger to controversy. Recently, she sparked debate with her comments on OnlyFans and the military during an appearance on the talk show Ziwe. She argued that selling one’s body to the government in the army is worse than selling it on OnlyFans, challenging societal perceptions of sex work and military service.
