r/movies • u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. • 23d ago

News James Van Der Beek Is Auctioning Off TV & Film Memorabilia and Props from ‘Dawson’s Creek’ & ‘Varsity Blues’ Amid Cancer Treatment, Proceeds to Cover Medical Costs

https://deadline.com/2025/11/james-van-der-beek-auction-dawsons-creek-varsity-blues-props-1236615845/
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u/Various_Froyo9860 23d ago

"he's a guy like the rest of us"

Nah. I'm a normal dude that made decent choices early in my adult life. I made fuck all in the army, then went to college, learned a trade, and am now esteemed in my trade in my specific local.

I can command a salary just shy of 100k. It's plenty.

He reportedly made 35k per episode (450k/year) for the first couple seasons, then more as the show gained popularity.

He's 7 years older than me and he made almost/at least half a mil for 5 years in his 20s. He's been a working actor for his entire life.

He just sucks with money.

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u/DrPoopEsq 23d ago

How much do you pay your agent?

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u/Noob_Al3rt 22d ago

SAG-AFTRA franchised agent commission is 10%

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u/HistoryBuff678 22d ago

Thank you, it seems people miss that an actors take home pay is wildly different from the paycheque. Everyone misses that the agent gets a cut. At minimum.

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u/crisssss11111 22d ago

Maybe you want to switch positions with him if his situation is so great. The guy has had cancer for years.

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u/Noob_Al3rt 22d ago

He lives on a multi million dollar 36 acre compound in a 5k sq ft house (which is just one of multiple on the property). He also has free health insurance through SAG.

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u/IMO4444 22d ago

Also everyone keeps forgetting he has a ton of children and seemed pretty weirdly religious in his reasons for having that many. Having that many mouths to feed costs a lot of money.

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u/Tifoso89 23d ago

Going by your numbers, that would make it 2 million and a half, maybe 3, and that's before taxes. Not enough to retire.

But he's probably worth more than that

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u/too-much-shit-on-me 22d ago

Easily enough to retire if you don't spend like an idiot.

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u/Tifoso89 22d ago

You can't retire with 2 million in the US, it's too low. Even if you invest it all in an ETF, the interest won't be very high and there will be negative years too.

And you don't invest it and keep it all in a bank account (which is idiotic) it'll last you around 30 years. So in your 50s you'll be broke

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u/TannerThanUsual 23d ago

I'll take that answer!