Remarkable to think that 'Degrassi' would last 14 seasons and 385 episodes. Nowadays, whoever hears about the show instantly thinks of Drake. He got his start on the teen drama and would later pivot into the world of music.
Let's just say the pivot to take place was the right call, as it boomed his career, in terms of both fame and fortune.
He was making ends meet during his time on 'Degrassi', though he wasn't breaking the bank. We'll take a look at how much he was making on the show back in the day per year. When calculating his yearly pay and the totality of it all, it doesn't come anywhere near to his current figures thanks to album and song sales.
In addition, we'll dissect how much he's making off residuals these days, and let's just say he can barely buy a meal at a restaurant with the yearly funds.
Drake Is Filthy Rich These Days
It is safe to say that Drake isn't thinking about his 'Degrassi' pay these days. The rapper has made a fortune since, and making the jump to music has paid off quite nicely. According to Celebrity Net Worth, the star is worth over $200 million these days.
According to Forbes, he managed to stay very profitable during the pandemic, making up to $50 million in 2020, ranking him among the elite celebs out there. A huge chunk of his change is all thanks to his songs and albums. He started making the transition as a teen, writing up his own lyrics.
"17, 18, is when I was really getting into that hip hop phase, you know, and really studying the things that I needed to study as far as learning about flows and learning about lyrics," he told GQ.
As of 2008, he officially left the acting world for a run in music full-time. Clearly, given all his success and accolades, he made the right decision. Not to say that he was doing well in his acting career but given the figures, he wasn't making anywhere near to the fortune he is making nowadays.
He Made Between $40,000 & $50,000 Per Year On The Show
Drake did not come from money and at one point, his family was living off the 'Degrassi' salary. The actor was making modest money at the time, great for a teen of course.
Reports are conflicting when it came to his pay, as GQ reports he made $40,000 a year as an actor on the show, while Celebrity Net Worth claims Drake collected $50,000 a year on the Canadian show, precisely, $2,000 per month after taxes.
For Drake, his run on the show all started thanks to his gift of gab. He was introduced to an agent at a young age because of his way with words at school.
"I was in class, and I used to always crack jokes in class. I was a good liar and a good talker. And this kid in my class was like, 'Yo, my dad is an agent. You should go talk to him because you're good and you make people laugh,'" Drake explained to GQ in 2012. "I was just good. I was my father's son. I was slick, you know? When it comes to knowing what to say, to charm, I always had it."
As they say, the rest is history and his career would take off on the show. However, he couldn't really make a living off the show alone, especially given the little amount he's making of residuals these days.
He Gets $8.25 In Residuals Per Year
Even back in the day, Drake knew living off his 'Degrassi' fame was not a possibility. He was coming to terms with the fact that he might have to work a normal job once the show came to an end.
"I was coming to terms with the fact that, okay, people know me from 'Degrassi,' but I might have to work at a restaurant or something just to keep things going," he explained. "The money from that show was very small. And it was dwindling."
Of course, in 2009, his career forever changed when he dropped his third mixtape which received a great deal of exposure, "So Far Gone.'' He never looked back from then on, sticking to music.
It is good that he did, due to the fact that his residuals aren't making him run to the bank. Drake posted a picture of his payment from the show, which is $8.25...
Yup, don't quit your day job, Drake.