Zendaya is reportedly earning about $1 million per episodefor the third season of Euphoria, a figure that sources claim has heightened tensions with co-starSydney Sweeneyand added fuel to widerfeud rumoursas the HBO drama moves towards its final run.
Euphoria became a breakout success over its first two seasons, with Zendaya at the centre as Rue and, from season two, as an executive producer helping shape the story. Around her, a young ensemble includingSydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, Alexa Demie and Chloe Cherrybuilt fan bases of their own as the show turned into a prestige hit with awards clout and lucrative off-screen opportunities.
Reports cited byThe Tabsay Zendaya's salary for season three has climbed to about $1 million per episode. If the new season follows the show's familiar eight-episode pattern, that would amount to a reported $8 million before bonuses or residuals are taken into account.
Those figures have not been confirmed by HBO or the cast's representatives, but they sit well above the sums being linked to the rest of the main ensemble.Sydney Sweeneyis reportedly earning around $750,000 an episode, while an unnamed insider quoted by theDaily Mailand relayed byThe Tabsuggested the pay gap is one reasonrelations between the two starsare being described as strained.
'Zendaya was definitely making more money than Sydney,' the source said. 'Zendaya was the name coming on to the project, and that wasn't easy for Sydney, especially since she's now a bigger name than she once was.'
There has been no direct comment from either Zendaya or Sweeney on the reported feud or the salary claims. For now, both the figures and the alleged tension remain based on press reports and unnamed sourcing.
Further down the call sheet, Jacob Elordi is reportedly on around $700,000 an episode, with Alexa Demie said to be earning roughly $600,000. Chloe Cherry, who plays Faye, is widely reported to be at the lower end of the scale on about $80,000 per episode.
Within the same show, one performer is reportedly earning many times more than another per instalment, a reminder that ensemble dramas may look democratic on screen while operating very differently behind the scenes.
The feud rumours do not stop with Zendaya and Sweeney. The same unnamed insider cited in theDaily Mailalso claimed that the atmosphere between Sweeney and Alexa Demie has at times been openly cold.
'If there were any issues with anyone, Alexa Demie and Sydney would avoid each other,' the source alleged. 'And people could tell there was no love lost between them; they definitely don't like each other.'
Source: International Business Times UK
