9 Of The Highest Earning Sex Tapes In Hollywood

If you had a nickle for every time you heard the phrase “sex sells,” you’d undoubtedly be a millionaire. Many of the people who sell their sexuality, in fact, are. Industry executives use this phrase to convince young, starry-eyed, hopefuls. Record labels remind their artists of this before releasing a single, or shooting a music video. Film producers keep this in mind when cooking up their next blockbuster. The sad truth is that the easiest way to instant overnight celebrity is to film yourself copulating. It helps if you’re attractive and are hooking up with someone who’s already famous. And the pay off, depending on how promising your variables, is pretty astounding. To give you an idea, here’s a list of 9 of the highest earning sex tapes in Hollywood.

9. Montana Fishburne: An A-List Daughter Makes her XXX Debut  – Montana Fishburne

Disgraced daughter of actor Laurence Fishburne released her sex tape under the name, Chippy D, in 2010. Montana was initially promised a $125,000 advance plus 25% of the profits. However, Vivid Entertainment didn’t hold up their end of the bargain after the tapes release, due to poor sales and subsequently, Montana was only paid $60,000 and not a dime more. Montana is quoted as saying, “I’ve watched how successful Kim Kardashian became and I think a lot of it was due to the release of her sex tape.” The young lady is now estranged from her father because of his disappointment in her choices. Makes you wonder if it was worth being cut out of a decent inheritance from her father’s estimated $38 million net worth.

8. Danielle Staub

Real Housewives of New Jersey star Danielle Staub released a sex tape with her now ex husband Thomas Staub, in 2010. According to her ex-husband, he had no idea that their most intimate moments were actually being filmed, so once the tape was released and Danielle was paid $200,000, her ex reportedly sued for half of her earnings from the tape, receiving his $100,000 share. So, he basically earned 100,000 and didn’t even know he was performing for an audience.

7. Verne Troyer

Everyone is familiar with the famous Dr. Evil and his tiny version, mini-me from the popular and hilarious Austin Powers series of films. The mini-me star, Verne Troyer shocked the world in 2008, when he released a sex tape featuring his long time girlfriend Ranae Shrider. The mini-me actor reportedly earned $200,000 for the tape, but his motive wasn’t too gain more fame. In fact, he later admitted to having filmed it to help pay off his back taxes.

6. Kendra Wilkinson

Before becoming a famous Playboy bunny, an 18 year old Kendra Wilkinson filmed an x-rated video with her then boyfriend. Years later, after becoming famous for her association with the one and only, Hugh Hefner, she shopped the tape around in 2010, receiving the highest offer from Vivid Entertainment for a large $680,000 advance, plus 50% of residual profits. Today, Kendra is married to former NFL player, Hank Baskett and they have two kids together. Kendra has an estimated net worth of $6 million.

5. Mimi & Nikko Scandal In Atlanta – Mimi Faust and Nikko Smith

In 2014, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star Mimi Faust teamed up with her boyfriend Nikko Smith, to film a sex tape called Mimi & Nikko Scandal In Atlanta. The pair were paid $100,000 for the rights to the film which sold out within the first week of its release, reaching pre-sales of $400,000. Mimi is quoted as telling friends “I was thinking about me and my family and doing it because I want to, ain’t no shame in this game here.” In the wake of the sex tape’s release, TMZ reported that retail stores across the nation experienced a shortage of super strong shower rods thanks to its feature in the tape.

4. Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom – Farrah Abraham

In 2013, Farrah Abraham of Teen Mom fame got together with adult entertainment star, James Deen and filmed a sex tape titled Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom. While the young mother maintains that she did not film the intimate footage with the intention of leaking it to the public, but instead wanted to “privately celebrate her awesome body forever,” James Deen admits he was paid for the scene, and it was made to be sold. Farrah’s deal with Vivid Entertainment entailed an upfront advance of $1.5 million, plus 30% of residuals, which amounted to $60,000 per month for Farrah at the height of its popularity. To date, Farrah Superstar: Backdoor Teen Mom has earned Farrah an estimated $2,450,000.

3. 1 Night In Paris – Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton’s claim to fame was a sex tape filmed in 2004, with her boyfriend at the time, Rick Salomon. Paris was paid a reported $13 million for starring in the video, while her sex tape partner earned $10 million for his appearance. Initially, Paris intended to sue Rick for releasing the video without her consent but eventually decided to settle out of court for 50% of the video’s royalties. To date, the heiress reportedly collects over $3 million a year in royalties from the infamous video. Interesting how that worked out for Miss. Hilton.

2. Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee

Married couple at the time, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee decided to capture the most intimate moments of their honeymoon on camera. Shortly afterwards, the couple came to regret it when the tape ended up in the hands of adult entertainment company, Internet Entertainment Group, whom they later successfully sued for $740,000; reportedly their share of video cassette, dvd, and internet sales. While to date, the tape has earned the rights holder Internet Entertainment Group over $100 million since its release in 1995, because Pamela and Tommy didn’t have a deal in place with IEG to intentionally release the steamy video for cash, the exes missed out on a potential tens of millions in royalties.

1. Kim K Superstar – Kim Kardashian and Ray J

The world was first introduced to Kim Kardashian in 2007, after the release of Kim K Superstar, a sex tape she’d filmed with boyfriend at the time, R&B singer, Ray J. Kim and Ray J’s agreement with Vivid Entertainment involved an upfront fee of $5 million for the rights to the tape with a promise of monthly royalties. While actress Pamela Anderson’s sex tape with ex husband Tommy Lee was the long standing highest selling sex tape of all time, since 1995, Kim recently dethroned the former Baywatch star, thanks to her recent nude spread for Paper Magazine that inspired a resurgence in Kim K Superstar sales. Royalties amounted to less than $30,000 per month since the tape’s buzz had died down after so many years, however, in light of the recent resurrection in popularity, Ray J has reportedly earned $50,000 in just one week. A good 7 years after the tape’s release.