Hannah Montana turned Miley Cyrus into mega adult star, but she was underpaid in the show.

Miley Cyrus went on to have a successful career as a child star. At just the age of 12, she became a teen idol, starring in the 2006 sitcom Hannah Montana.

Miley Cyrus in and as Hannah Montana (2006-2011).

She portrayed cheeky Miley Stewart, who balances double life as both an average girl and a sensational pop singer named Hannah Montana. In this Disney show, she constantly tries to hide her true identity from the public.

This role came as a big break for little Cyrus. As an adult, she built an enormous fortune with the role. But it’d come as a shocker that she was the least-paid person in the show despite receiving $450k per season.

Miley Cyrus was the Least Paid Actor in Hannah Montana

Miley Cyrus in a still from Hannah Montana

As per the Celebrity Net Worth, Miley Cyrus’ net worth is estimated to be $160 million. And the pop singer made most of that before she turned 18, all thanks to Hannah Montana.

It’s reported that she was paid up to $15,000 an episode of Hannah Montana, which is equivalent to around $450,000 a season.

Even though she received big bucks just as an adult, the singer was actually one of the least-paid actors on the show. Cyrus said that herself in an interview. She told Elle in 2016:

“I did not grow up spoiled in any way. I just wanted to be on TV. I mean, at one point—they’ll probably kill me for saying it—I was probably the least paid person on my cast because I didn’t know any better. I was just like, ‘I can be on Disney? Yeah, I want to do it!’ My name was Miley on my show, but I didn’t own my name—we didn’t think about that.”

At that time, Cyrus only hoped to be on the big screen. She didn’t think she was underpaid on the show anyway because her only motive was to be on Disney. But now the singer earns more than what she earlier used to. Her The Voice salary is a living example of it.

Miley Cyrus’ The Voice Salary and More

Miley Cyrus in The Voice

Miley Cyrus’ The Voice salary was big as a judge on seasons 11 and 13. Her reported salary was $13 million in salary in 2016 in the reality TV show. But the Jolene singer confirmed on The Howard Stern Show while promoting her album Younger Now in 2017 that the show’s 13th season would be her last, at least for now.

In 2022, Cyrus was named in Forbes magazine‘s 30 under 30 list. The 30-year-old reflected on her career and said, “One thing I’m very proud of is that I started my business before I started my period.” She then continued:
“And now, I’ve performed at Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, inducted Joan Jett into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—all on my period. It has never gotten in the way of me being a businesswoman.”
No doubt Cyrus came a long way—from starring in a Disney show as a pop idol on the screen to becoming a pop singer off-screen.