Exclusive: Luke Cook Bares All About Astonishingly Low Earnings during Actor's Strike: 'A Harsh Reality of Money Struggles'

Luke Cook, known for his roles in popular TV shows such as The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Katy Keene, recently shed light on his earnings as an actor amidst the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Despite his success, Cook humbly revealed in a TikTok video on July 14 that he is not a millionaire and shared the realities faced by the majority of SAG actors. He discussed how 95 percent of these actors cannot sustain themselves solely through acting and are forced to take up side jobs to make ends meet. Cook's relatable admission highlights the financial challenges actors often encounter in the industry.

He added, "Typically, the actors you have in mind, the millionaires, are usually series regulars or A-listers in major films. However, the actors around them, like myself, are often guest stars or co-stars. We don't earn much."

To illustrate this, Cook provided details of his income from portraying Fender in four episodes of Hulu's Dollface. "Last year, I was in a show called Dollface and they featured me on a billboard on Sunset Boulevard. Can you believe they didn't pay me a single dollar for that? The amount they paid me for my role on the show wasn't much better."

Cook, who shares two kids with wife Kara Wilson, also mentioned that he doesn't have much control over his paycheck. He revealed that he receives payment per episode, which accounts for two weeks of work. However, after taxes and deductions, the amount dwindles down to $7,500. Among the deductions, 10 percent goes to his manager, another 10 percent to his agent, and 5 percent to his lawyer. Despite earning a respectable income, Cook acknowledges that he falls slightly below the level of a series regular, who can make around $100,000 per episode. He recognizes their wealth and believes they deserve it.

Luke Cook. Courtesy of Luke Cook/TikTok

The S.W.A.T. alum went on to show his support for the SAG-AFTRA union.

A significant aspect of this strike pertains to individuals like myself who deserve higher compensation for their work and a share of the profits generated by these prominent streamers. Thus, this discussion is not aimed at millionaires," he stated. "As previously mentioned, 90 percent of the union members do not earn a sufficient income from this job alone. ... Personally, I believe it is only fair to receive better pay for appearing on your favorite shows. It shouldn't be necessary for me to hold two additional jobs just to make ends meet when you see me on TV."

Earlier this month, SAG-AFTRA declared a strike after the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) failed to address their concerns relating to equitable wages, the utilization of artificial intelligence, and various other matters during contract negotiations.

The decision was made two months later following the announcement of a strike by the Writers Guild of America due to a labor dispute with the AMPTP. This organization represents major networks including Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Discovery-Warner, NBC Universal, Paramount, and Sony.

After revealing his wage details, Cook responded strongly to a comment that accused him of lying.

"I've been exposed. It turns out I'm a millionaire. Some clever person discovered my net worth on Google. I've had the opportunity to make appearances as a recurring guest star, which has contributed to my newfound wealth," he jokingly remarked in a second video shared on Sunday, July 16th. "If you doubt my millionaire status, join my fitness classes at 5 A.M. on Monday morning and as I instruct, question yourself: 'Can you believe he's teaching fitness? With $5 million in the bank, why is he still charging $50 per class?' This way, you can convince yourself that I'm a millionaire who works three jobs for no apparent reason."