'Hamilton' Star Reveals Low Amount of First Paycheck for Hit Show That Left Him 'Still Struggling'

Anthony Ramos, who originated the dual role of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in the hit Broadway play Hamilton, opened up about how much he earned on the show, both before it made it to Broadway and during the star-making run.

Ramos, who recently starred in the movies Twisters and In the Heights, sat down with Vivian Tu for her Richer Lives podcast in partnership with SoFi to talk about managing his money.

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Tu asked Ramos about his first paycheck for Hamilton, with the star revealing that he initially got around $420 a week during the off-Broadway run.

The musical then made it to Broadway in 2015, but Ramos described how he still struggled despite making more than double what he was before.

"You get paid better on Broadway, but even on Broadway it can still be tough," he told the podcast host, launching into an explanation of all the cuts to an actor's paycheck.

He began, "If you're an ensemble member, you're a chorus member, you're probably making like $1,800 a week. But they're paying their agent...10 percent to the agent, 10 percent to the manager, so 20 percent off the top, and then you're paying probably in New York, what, 30 percent, 40 percent tax."

"If you're not smart with your money—You beat," Ramos declared, with Tu echoing his statement as she commented, "It goes quick."

Summing up his feelings about his first Hamilton Broadway paycheck, Ramos said, "Getting that first paycheck was great because I was getting paid to do something I loved, but I was still struggling in New York. It's got to even out, somehow."

Ramos also shared his advice for theater actors starting to experience success, saying, "Don't get irresponsible" with your money, recounting a time when he unknowingly spent the money he intended to use on a vacation.

Next up for Ramos, he will appear in the upcoming Marvel series Ironheart on Disney+ in 2025.

Next: Twisters Star Anthony Ramos Makes a Bold Declaration About Taylor Swift and the NFL